Chicken Dinner Candybar

Mini Update

2009-11-17T15:48:00.004-05:00

Just popping in to let you know I'm still alive :P! I've been busy trying to work on school projects, get my schedule for after the holidays figured out, study, get involved with the Deaf Community, etc. It's all been pretty fun, actually! I found a bunch of things I bought for the shop a long time ago, so I'll be posting them in handfuls starting today :D. It's almost Christmas break at school, and I can't wait to focus more on putting together outfits! I'll try to come up with some fun posts in the meantime :) If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

Click to visit the shop :)!

Flowerchild Vintage - Columbus, OH

2009-11-09T21:51:00.002-05:00

Sorry, I've been too cold/poor/rushed to dress well lately (bad excuses, I know!). But I ventured down to Columbus this past week for the DEAFair at the Expo Center and stopped by a lovely little shop in Short North I thought you guys might be interested in :)

Faith 21 Contest

2009-10-30T23:09:00.007-04:00

This has actually been mentioned on another blog already, but I just HAD to re-post and I never do that: It is that wonderful! Faith 21, the plus size branch of Forever 21, is hosting what they're calling a "Most Stylish Gal Search." First prize includes a trip for two to Los Angeles for a photo shoot, and a $500 shopping spree - crazy! Not to mention there is also going to be 2nd and 3rd places. I hope some of you guys enter :D! How cool would it be to know the winner? Just remember you have to be wearing an item from Faith 21.

I've never really been a competitive soul, but I thought, "hey! I'm wearing a Faith 21 product in one of my recent outfit shots...why not!?" Remember? So yep, I entered! I'm not sure exactly how it works yet but I'll keep you updated! I DO know that we should know the winner around December 14th. Wish me luck!?!

Get more info here.

P.S. Just to let you know, they're extending their sizes to 3X - hurray! :)

Winner winner, chicken dinner!

2009-10-30T21:43:00.004-04:00

The winner of the Yura Pocky Lover giveaway is comment #18 -- the lovely Gabi! I will be e-mailing you shortly to claim your prize, miss!

Thanks everyone for participating! Now, what should I give away next :)?

Etsy Promotion

2009-10-25T15:35:00.005-04:00

Starting today, everything in the shop is 20% off. Also, from now on return customers will receive a 10% discount. Enjoy!

P.S. Don't forget about the Yura Pocky Lover Giveaway, only 5 days left to enter!

P.P.S. I decided what I'm going to be for Halloween & I can't wait to show you my homemade costume this week xD!

Fat Love Friday #7 - Always Late!

2009-10-24T15:53:00.003-04:00

First up is J of Fatshionable, a Californian blogger on her way to becoming a lawyer. What a classy gal! Her style is absolutely polished and classic. One of her trademarks is mixing the super feminine with tougher pieces, like ruffles and leather, which I LOVE. She seems to invest in high quality items, so seeing her outfits (especially the shoes!) are the things of my shopping fantasies!

She really knows how to flatter her figure, too! Even if you aren't plus-sized, every girl has some feature that isn't the easiest to dress. But her taste and eye for shapes and styles is really just impeccable. I love that she doesn't use too many prints, and instead opts for nice fabrics and texture details. Even her makeup is amazing, she always looks so natural and fresh! And seriously, I want every single pair of shoes she owns! :)

Next is someone you could might call a fat fashion super hero! Gabi of Young, Fat, and Fabulous was one of the first plus size blogs I ever encountered, so she's really had a hand in my blog as far as the confidence it takes to put your outfit photos out there. She's got a great edge to her personal style, which lately is something I've been really inspired by, too! She always adds great rock 'n' roll vibes to her outfits, so they're always current and fashion-forward. I love that she always tries out recent trends, and in fact, she always interprets them so well, I don't think I could ever look back on her photos and find them dated!

She's also very adventerous with layers and accessories too, which I know a lot of people find difficult. Not to mention her hair styles! She's done so many drastic things, but I really love each and every one, I can't even pick a favorite!

Recent finds & a possible outfit . . .

2009-10-22T22:32:00.004-04:00

I thrifted a Liz Claiborne plum knit 2 piece set yesterday (I ditched the skirt, it was kind of awful) intending to sell it, but tried it on for kicks. And now I think I'm keeping it...whoops! But now I'm having trouble styling it. Alright now be honest with me - too '80s call girl?

Plum sweater dress with gold studs: Thrifted
Extra long black leggings: Target
Black suede shoes: Deena & Ozzy for Urban Outfitters

And here are a couple things I've gotten lately but haven't figured out how to style yet, either. Feel free to make suggestions on what to wear this stuff with, I'm having a "fashion block" or something I guess :P!

Sparkly knit cropped sweater from Forever21.

Velvet floral vest, thrifted.

Bummin' Around

2009-10-22T21:45:00.003-04:00

Cleveland Browns sweatshirt: My dad's from the '70s or '80s.
Jeans: DEB, on sale for $9!!! (They actually have an AMAZING selection of plus size jeans. Just ignore all of the terrible plastic-smelling Hoochie Homecoming dresses on the way in :P!)
Moccasins (my favorite!): Minnetonka via Zappos.

Okay, okay, I'll admit...I do have super casual, jeans-and-ratty-sweatshirt days! In fact when I'm at school is usually when I'm dressed this way, because I wake up at 8am and just want to check my e-mail, grab breakfast and go! Fashion is definitely not the first thing I consider on these mornings haha. But hey, at least I'm still wearing vintage :D?

(Another, phew!) Etsy Update

2009-10-22T01:23:00.005-04:00

Another batch of things for the shop, mostly dresses. I went thrifting for a minute after school today and I'm kicking myself for not bringing my camera! It's just a Salvos but I had been wanting to review it for awhile now, and I don't go to this one very often because it's a bit out of my way.

I found one thing for me and one for the store, so I'm pretty happy :D! In fact if I have enough time I'll try to show it off in a post tomorrow! Two outfits, actually.

Anyway, just wanted to pop in and show you the new wares, back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow!

Etsy Update

2009-10-20T18:08:00.006-04:00

Click the photo to visit!

Yes, finally! Wow, I really procrastinated on this one. But I was having a really productive day so I figured I better get to it while I'm on a roll. I actually had a lot more things than usual, so I did half the items today and then hopefully the rest will go up tomorrow or Thursday.

Anyway, I think on Friday I'll hit up a bunch of thrift stores in Parma and the few old faithfuls around my house and really try to keep adding things to the store. I'm pretty determined to make this my job for now :P!

Little House + ASL?

2009-10-20T01:33:00.003-04:00

I have faithfully been watching every episode of Little House on the Prairie lately, all the way up to season 6 so far. I've mentioned before that I'm kind of obsessed! I also think I've said that I'm going to school to be a sign language interpreter...

Imagine my happiness when I found this episode (!!!) :D

Etsy Seller Giveaway!

2009-10-19T20:02:00.007-04:00

Awhile back I told you all about my little Japanese street style/kawaii obsession. Well, I gotta confess, I still can't resist anything colorful, miniature, or food related! Which is why I am totally smitten with Yura Pocky Lover, a Singapore-based Etsy shop. It's definitely a one-stop shop for all of your kawaii needs! So I thought I would share the cuteness with you by giving away my favorite item in the shop :D Read on to find out how to enter!

"Kawaii Minnie Mouse Necklace" as seen here.

To enter, just leave a comment here (leave your e-mail if you don't have a blog!) That's it! I will announce the winner (chosen via random.org's random generator) on October 30th, good luck! While you wait, have a look at a few other things that make my heart go pitter patter!

Left to right: 1. Sushi Platter Necklace 2. Perfume Love Necklace 3. Carousel Necklace 4. Cake Slices Necklace

Jeans and a W.I.P.

2009-10-18T17:05:00.005-04:00

Here's another outfit I wore last week. The guys who sit behind me in one of my classes declared a "suit day," and after confessing that even though I'm a 22 year old grown woman and I still don't have a proper basic suit, they changed it to just dress up day. So I thought, hell, why not :P! I just realized my eyes are closed in this photo, oops...

Jeans: Dickies, from Torrid
Black cardigan: Kohl's
Oversize white shirt: Faith21 (I bought this in 2X because my woven stuff ALWAYS shrinks, plus I wanted it to be baggy/long to possibly wear with leggings?)
What I've been referring to as the "temple necklace": Forever21
Liz Claiborne bag: Thrifted

The next outfit is more of a work in progress...Help me decide how to finish it? :D

Dress: Thrifted
Tights: Walmart, I think.
Heels: Thrifted
Fringe bag of my dreams: H&M

SO...this dress. I actually love it, but it DOES border on matronly/drapes you had in 1985. I think this outfit is O.K. by itself, but I'm thinking about adding a fur vest to give it some more youthful vibes. Like this one:

Forever21, $24.80. (They have EVERYTHING, don't they?)

Yay, nay? Any other suggestions...???

P.S. I actually wear jeans 95% of the time when I'm at school and such, so it's weird that they don't show up here more often! I think I'm going to do more of an "everyday/super casual" post sometime this week if you're curious, so stay tuned!

Going Out!

2009-10-17T13:45:00.003-04:00

So sorry to have disappeared for awhile there! But, good news! I quit the job I hated and now I'm looking for a new one, and thus more time for blogging and school and such :D. So basically, I have a million ideas for new posts. The first thing I wanted to do was show you two outfits I've worn while I was away :)

Romper: Traded with Claire of Mamush ka Marie. THANK YOU, I adore this :D!
Tights: Walmart...maybe?
Ballet flats: Some department store, years ago.
Little black bag: Thrifted
Cameo necklace: Gift from Bettie a few years ago.

I wore this a few weeks ago to visit Bettie in Akron and drink beer and play charades all night. Fun!

Leopard dress: Thrifted
Dotted tights: Nordstrom's (they have these in plus size for $10 there!)
Buckle booties: Thrifted
Little black bag: Liz Claiborne, thrifted
Black cloth belt: Thrifted

One of my favorite outfits ever I think! I wore this last weekend to Columbus to see Gil Mantera's Party Dream.

I'm actually pretty obsessed with these boots, I wear them with 90% of my outfits these days. They're super comfy, too! I also wore a black cardigan with both of these that isn't pictured. It's pretty chilly these days so I think I'm in the market for a new black coat, too!

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well :). Things to come: Etsy seller giveaway, the shop update I keep putting off, recent finds, two new outfits, and more!

P.S. I don't know if you can tell, but I've also found a nice red lipstick I was looking so hard for. It's a nice soft, non-scary red by MAC called Hot Tahiti. I'm so happy to have found the dotted tights in my size, too :)!

ASL Music Videos

2009-10-03T14:27:00.004-04:00

Are you guys digging these ASL posts? I hope there's at least a mild interest, even if you don't sign or anything! I promise some outfit posts coming up soon. And yes...that Etsy update I promised like 23983047 weeks ago :O Sorry! But for now...enjoy? Maybe :D? These are some of my favorite songs signed in either ASL or Pidgin (Contact, whatever :P). There are a LOT, so I won't feel bad if you don't watch them all haha.

Is anyone else unbearably charmed right now!? And this guy is only minoring in ASL, wow!

Her stuff is always awesome, she has a ton on her channel if you want to see more.

A CODA (Child Of a Deaf Adult) comedian. I saw him live a few months ago - hilarious :D!

Another CODA. I love her facial expressions.

Her signing is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. She's very ASL too, which I love.

This guy gets SO into it lol I like his style, too!

This is one of the first videos I found. He dances and signs!

This guy is pretty famous in the interpreting world, too. He does some crazy stuff (obviously)!

A Birthday Wishlist

2009-10-01T12:24:00.003-04:00

Wow, I guess it's that time! My 22nd birthday is October 13th, and looking at the calendar today I realized it's already less than two weeks away. Woah! It actually falls on a weekday, so I decided to do something fun the weekend before to celebrate. Next weekend, Bettie and I are going to take a little trip down to Columbus for the Gil Mantera show and (hopefully) some thrifting adventures. I'm kind of thinking about gifting myself one of these treasures to wear for the occasion!

Left: Vintage '80s slouchy shell cardigan, $30 from Retro Lane on Etsy.
Right: Oversize burnt orange '80s sweater, $44.99 from Persephone Vintage on Etsy.

Studded bucket bag, $35 from Bajue Boutique on Etsy.

Etienne Aigner tapestry bag, $38.50 from The Pudding Store Vintage on Etsy.

Indigo jeggings, $35 from Dorothy Perkins.

Dotted tights, $16 from Topshop. Anyone know where I can find these in plus size? And preferably in black...

Baccarat heels, $39.99 from Modcloth. (I think I need to face my heel fear and try some out!)

I'm trying not to do a TON of online shopping, since I am soon to be jobless (hurray for quitting the evil corporation!), but I'm so in love with these things! I tried to keep this list in my price range, even though I wanted to go crazy with an expensive "fantasy list." :P And mostly, to be honest, I am quite content with thrifted goods!

Fat Love Friday #6

2009-09-25T21:22:00.004-04:00

I have two beautiful ladies for you today! Both of them are coincidentally not from the U.S., too. Exciting, no? As I'm sure you may have noticed lately, often times I am torn between vintage and modern outfits. These gals are perfect examples of what I am for when I try more modern looks :)! I hope you enjoy their outfits as much as I do.

First we have French beauty, Sakina of Saks in the City (clever, too, right?! :P). Her style is very ladylike, sophisticated, and tailored. Her outfits are always perfectly accessorized. Even her more casual outfits seem elegant the way she adds jewelry and layers. Not only that, but she's another one with a knack for fit! Because she's so good at choosing clothes that fit perfectly, she always looks like a million bucks!

I also really admire the way she interprets trends. For instance, I am IN LOVE with the way she wears blazers! Trying out trendy looks can sometimes be difficult, unsuccessful, and ultimately a waste of money if you aren't careful. But I truly feel that her looks are timeless!

Unfortunately she and I don't share this trait, but I also think she photographs extremely well and wish I could pose as nicely and naturally as she does :P!

And now we have Val! The gorgeous Belgian blogger of Blog To Be Alive. Her style is feminine, yet edgy, and all around glamorous. I love that she takes risks with loud prints, maxi dresses, sequins, etc. Because she pulls them all off effortlessly. The maxi dress she's wearing in the photo really just stuck with me. She looks like a goddess, doesn't she!?

I also love that she wears heels so often. I am honestly stunned - I don't know how she does it! I think the heels add just the right amount of sexy to her outfits. Ah, if only I knew how to walk in them...Another thing I love about her outfits is that she isn't afraid of color, and often wears some of the lovliest color combos I've seen!

And seriously, how amazing is her hair? I'm so tempted to grow mine out now haha. Anyway, if you get a chance, do visit their blogs! All of the entries are translated into English, so there should be no problems there, and there are PLENTY more photos to put into your inspiration folder :P!

Shoe vote!

2009-09-23T23:19:00.002-04:00

My best friend is kind of obsessed with shoes (and yes, that is a link to her new blog - do visit!). She has millions. Gets really excited about them and whatnot (what? You do :P!). I realized...me, not so much. I have a tendency to never splurge on them. In fact, I can be rather cheap! And I can't help but be practical! I'm a flats/sneaker/boots kind of gal I guess. Heels? No thanks. In fact, I kind of look on them more as art - something to be admired, but actually worn...? Here are some of my recent favorites from my closet:

(Left to right) Top row: Thrifted, Minnetonkas via Zappos, Target, thrifted.

Bottom row: Some mall store, thrifted, H&M, BC Footwear via Zappos, thrifted.

So I gave the whole "buy shoes that cost more than $20" thing a whirl (the black t-straps and Minnetonka mocs, most recently)...and I am officially in a shoe phase (in case you missed what I was hinting at: it's all Bettie's fault!). Over the last few paychecks I have actually bought myself a few decent pairs of shoes. And now I need more. Haha. Which is where you come in, friends! Which ones should join my little shoe family next?

1. BC Footwear Stormy Weather Leather Jazz Ankle Boot, $69.95

2. Kimchi & Blue Heeled Oxford, $58.00

3. Deena & Ozzy for UO Essential Heel, $48.00

4. BC Footwear Carpool Fringe Flat, $39.95.

Thrift Shop Review - Another Day, Another Salvos!

2009-09-23T19:59:00.005-04:00

Sorry for doing two of these in a row! I've just been so excited about finding new thrift stores I couldn't help myself! Don't be surprised if another one pops up this week, too, since I'm going thrifting again tomorrow in Akron while I visit my bestest friend in the whole wide world :D Happy day!

Salvation Army in Parma, OH on Pearl Rd.

Service: Unfortunately I didn't have much interaction with the employees. However, while maneuvering around the busy store, I said "excuse me" and smiled nervously at customers and employees, and I was a little put off when no one smiled back or actually said anything at all o_O. But, half-off days are pretty chaotic so we'll just chalk it up to that?

Selection: TONS of stuff here! They always have a ton of computers and TVs too, if you're looking for that kind of thing. They had a nice long dress aisle, too! I found a bunch of stuff this time!

Price: Pretty average as far as Salvos seem to go. They seem to mark up leather/shoes/name brands pretty high though.

Organization: There were a LOT of people working at this one. I counted at least 7 different employees buzzing around, so that probably helps with the neatness of the place. The bookcases especially were very well kept!

Overall: 8/10. I think I prefer SAs over Goodwills, but I've gotta find some more unique places!

I was on the hunt for a good broken in '80s sweatshirt after I saw Caroline's on Wardrobe Remix, and I think I'm digging this one! I like the way it fits, and I'm always into weird artsy/tribal prints :P! This is actually a typical casual outfit for me.

On the inside...how funny xD!

Granny boots and oxfords for the shop...

Oh, how I wish this fit! I also got a beaded cashmere cropped sweater for Etsy (which sadly just wouldn't photograph properly). These things should be popping up in the store hopefully before the end of the week! Although, now that I think of it, feel free to inquire about it here you fancy anything that much :).

Thrift Shop Reviews

2009-09-20T11:28:00.005-04:00

I came across a blog a few days ago where a gal was taking a road trip, visiting several thrift shops along the way and rating them. What a brilliant idea!! So I thought I would rate my local(ish) shops in case anyone is ever in the area :) Thank you for the link, Leilani and Jade! (Speaking of thrift, WOW, check out their blog!)

Salvation Army on Heisley Road in Mentor, OH.

Service: The employees are kind of grumpy, but they don't give you too much trouble. One of the gals is particularly nice and we have a little chat whenever I see her. The manager is kind of scary. While perusing the racks, I constantly hear her bossing people around.

Selection: I seem to find at least one thing whenever I go here! They also don't usually have any of those chain store cast offs either, which is amazing. I have even found a gem or two amongst the polyester madness they call the vintage section. In general, they have a LOT of stuff and bring in new things often.

Price: Sometimes they can be expensive. I saw a dress there yesterday for $12.99, BUT I s'pose it was new with tags. I don't seem to find a ton of things at once, so I actually don't mind very much. It also makes me more selective, which usually turns out to be a good thing. However, most everything is half off in Wednesdays. But if you go that day, expect long lines and crowds.

Organization: ...is decent. The clothes are arranged by color, which seems to work out okay. It seems to be easier to keep than size order, but I actually would prefer it that way. For the smaller lady this might not be such a problem though. Usually the store is kept clean, I almost always see someone mopping or sweeping. And the bathroom is decent, too!

Overall: 8/10. One of the best I've found! Only 10 minutes away, too :)

Here's what I found this time! I love these leather messenger/briefcase bags. I actually have another one in caramel that I found quite some time ago. I've been saving them for the laptop I'm hoping to go halves on with my parents for my birthday in October :)!

What I've Been Wearing...

2009-09-18T18:11:00.003-04:00

Grey ribbed sweater: Kohl's
Toucan sun dress: Thrifted
Teal flats: H&M
Cream bag: Coach, thrifted

(Close ups of the shoes and bag can be found in previous posts.)

Black top: JC Penney
Jewel tone floral skirt: Thrifted
Teal cloth belt: Thrifted
Leopard print flats: Target

(More >_<) Bento

2009-09-17T23:16:00.003-04:00

I hope these aren't getting too boring x_x! It's a good way to look at your diet though, so I think I'll stay in the habit...Feel free to show me yours :D!

Top tier: Pepperoni bread, yum!

Bottom Tier: My favorite trail mix, orange milano cookies, green tea candy.

Extras: Mango apple sauce.

Top tier: Pita bread, spelt pretzels, orange milano cookies, green tea candy.

Bottom tier: Shrimp and cocktail sauce :9!

Extras: Babybel cheese, chicken salad to make a sandwich.

Top tier: Pita bread with lettuce, Babybel cheese.

Bottom tier: Orange milano cookies, green tea candy, lowfat strawberry yogurt.

Extras: Roasted red pepper hummus in the little white container, and a pink crisp apple.

Marlee Matlin

2009-09-17T22:10:00.004-04:00

Sooo, someone asked in one of my last posts what I go to school for. Over the last year or so, I have become so excited about pursuing this area of study, and I thought I'd share a little bit of it with you! I've actually mentioned it briefly in some of my earliest posts, but if you didn't catch it...

Yes, hopefully one day I will be an interpreter for the Deaf. But for now, I am truly enjoying taking my first few steps into ASL and Deaf culture. The thing that got me into ASL to begin with was a movie called "Children of a Lesser God," (1986). It's a romance about a Deaf woman and a hearing man, and it really just is SUCH a beautiful film. I tried to find a clip on Youtube, but had a hard time finding a decent one, so just trust me - watch it :D!

So I found out the lead actress in the movie (Marlee Matlin) recently came out with an autobiography. And of course I bought it! It was a very interesting read, especially being able to sort of get to know Marlee. She actually seems very similar to a lot of the characters she plays: a smart, funny, passionate, angry, and strong lady.

I won't give away all the action in her book, but here are some basics: She became Deaf at 18 months, and still isn't sure about the cause of her Deafness. She learned ASL at age 5. She grew up in Chicago, IL with 2 brothers. She is a recovered drug addict. She has had several romances with famous men in Hollywood. She is still the youngest woman to have won an Academy Award (at age 21). But currently she has settled down quite a bit, married to a police officer with 4 children.

I know this isn't really fashion related (in fact, she has landed herself on some worst dressed lists, yikes!), but hopefully at least one person shares my fascination on the subject :D! I sifted through Youtube and found some videos I thought you guys might enjoy...so, without further ado, I give you Marlee Matlin :)!

P.S. I've been trying to photograph my outfits lately, so stay tuned for those this weekend! I'm also taking measurements on some clothes for the shop right now, so look for those soon, too :)!

Bento and Bento Tips

2009-09-08T19:41:00.005-04:00

Here are my bento from last week! I've also come up with a few tips if you're trying to get started packing lunches :). I'm trying to stay away from microwavable foods because the microwave at school is a bit moody, so I'd love some no-heat food suggestions if you can think of any!

This had to last me the day since I had to work right after school, so it's a bit more food than usual.

Top tier: Pita bread, homegrown cherry tomatoes, carrots, Babybel cheese.

Bottom tier: Ham roll ups (ham, cream cheese, and green onion).

Extras: Candy, chocolate/Pocky, gum (to combat the onions! haha), small plum. The white container has roaster red pepper hummus.

I thought I was being clever and made this one all dipping foods haha xD.

Top tier: Chicken nuggets, apple slices.

Bottom tier: Cucumber, carrots, cauliflower.

Extras: Mini candybars, ketchup, caramel, spinach dip, Babybel cheese.

Drink: Santa Cruz organic raspberry lemonade.

Leftovers, yum!

Top tier: Steamed pork dumplings from my favorite Chinese joint.

Bottom tier: Dried dates, edamame (frozen, this photo is from the night before. I warmed them and ate them with salt come lunch time).

Extras: Hard candy, mini organic chocolate bar, Babybel cheese, teriyaki sauce.

So here are some money saving/bento packing tips:

1. I think planning is important when you want to start packing lunches everyday. At the end of each week, I try to come up with a list of 5-7 ingredients that can be used a lot of different ways. This way I don’t have to have the same thing 3 days a week. For instance dips or spreads (cream cheese, hummus, spinach dip…). You can pair them with vegetables, pita, lunchmeat, anything! I also like it because I usually end up using everything up and nothing goes to waste.

2. Buy bottled water in bulk. Or drink tap/water cooler water from school or work. Sometimes I allow myself one (overpriced!) coffee or vending machine drink per week. You could also use a thermos and take iced tea, orange juice, or whatever else you have in the fridge from home.

3. Freeze, freeze, freeze. For example, I‘ve bought frozen veggie nuggets, edamame, etc. That means I can also use them the next week if I only wanted to have these items once this week. I think it keeps your menu from being boring! But, I try to limit to one frozen food per bento.

4. Buy in bulk. I get my dried fruit and nuts from bulk bins. That way, it’s cheaper because I only want to use a small amount for the week.

5. Use leftovers. This one is kind of self-explanatory… ;)

6. Invest in one of those little ice packs for your lunch box! They’re only a couple bucks and you can use them over and over. It’s an essential for me, because the a/c in my car doesn‘t work, so my lunch sits in my hot car for an hour on the way to school, yikes :P

7. If you want to buy take out, buy appetizers or a small amount. Or even split a main course in half and eat one for dinner, and one for lunch the next day.

So...what do you do for lunch :D?

Fat Love Friday #5

2009-09-04T22:10:00.008-04:00

I wasn't sure if I was going to continue doing these kinds of posts because of the controversy over the last one. To clear things up: Fabulous fat ladies WILL continue to be featured here. I am fat :D. Like many other women, I have found it difficult to embrace my body over the years. Recently, I have slowly become more and more aware of the fact that bodies come in all shapes and sizes and can be, and truly are beautiful - EVEN mine!

The gals posted here are a tribute to or celebration of that idea. As I said the first time, I will spare you the lecture about the unenlightened society we live in. However, I'm sure you already know... unrealistic beauty expectations and shallow messages in the fashion industry are no secret. To put it as simply as possible, the point of this post is to facilitate change. If you do not enjoy this post - please skip it! But for those who have enjoyed it in the past, thanks for your support, I really appreciate it :)!

First up is Lilli, from Frocks and Frou Frou. This girl is absolutely radiant. Her clothes fit like a glove. Plus I love all the funny little details, like quirky owl pins, red boots, and Chihuahua mary janes! Her style is classy, yet still remains whimsical. I also love her uses of color, wide belts, cardigans and ruffles/bows!

It's probably also largely due to her 100 watt smile, but she just seems so approachable. There seems to be such a comfortableness about the WAY she wears her clothes. Her style is so consistent, as if she has figured out what she likes and feels wonderful in, and then owns it with pride, outfit after outfit. I don't think that's easy to do!

And seriously, that is the cutest haircut ever. Don't even lie! At least a few of you are going to take her picture to the hairdresser, aren't you :P?

And of course, another well-known lady: Maria of Corazones Rojos! So, talk about versatility. She looks just as fabulous in those girly day dresses as she does the edgy, destroyed numbers. Personally, I think the '80s is a very difficult era to draw inspiration from, and she does it wonderfully. I love the bright colors and bold prints she chooses. Her style is cool, inventive, yet always perfectly feminine and flattering.

One of my other favorite things about her outfits is the way she mixes patterns and prints. There is a fine line between a hugely creative outfit with patterns that compliment each other, and just a plain mess. Honestly, I don't think I've graduated to that level yet haha. But some day!

Red nails, lime green pants, jean jacket? Yes, please!

Looking for the perfect piece of jewelry to top off your outfit
flawlessly. Bank account low? Before you freak out, log on and find chic
jewelry and loose diamonds for
extremely affordable prices.

The Style Monster

2009-09-01T17:44:00.004-04:00

So, lately...I'm going through a bit of a phase. Or something. We young people do that, right? Reassure me here. It's like my taste in clothes has taken on a mind of its own o.o! My style this summer was basically like art teacher meets your churchgoing Grandmother (let's just be honest haha). For the last few months, I had had the strongest aversion to the mall and store-bought items. And suddenly, BAM! I find myself with the strangest things for fall...

Left: Charlotte Rousse, $12. Right: Etsy, $20.

Left: Maroon rose print pencil skirt, thrifted, $2. Middle: Dusty pink ruffled cami, JC Penney, $17. Right: Embellished rose T-shirt, Target, $22.

Left: Black & white stripe T-shirt: Faith21, $18. Middle: Huge abstract rose bag, Forever21, $18. Right: Simple black boots, Target, $40.

I know, the rose thing has gotta stop haha. But anyway! I've also got a few other things in mind that I'd like to slowly incorporate into my wardrobe and a few things on their way. I also invested in a basic black top, sweater, and pants. I'm also on the hunt for a nice leather jacket. I guess sometimes I just feel kind of, well, OLD dressing all in vintage/thrifted. In fact, well, a few people have told me so.

WAIT - I know what you're thinking. Don't let people change the way you want to dress, wear what you feel good in...I get it. But honestly, sometimes they were right! I'm still a bargain shopper though (after spending all that time paying less than $10 per garment, $40 on a shirt seems a little crazy!), but I am starting to feel a lot more open to more modern styles.

Honestly, you can just blame these (fabulous) people. Just a warning, only click if you are willing to be completely inspired!:

Fatshionable
Style Bubble
Garbage Dress
Kingdom of Style
Alice Point

Etsy Update

2009-08-29T22:59:00.003-04:00

PHEW. Now I can officially say I updated the shop in August, haha. Get 20% off for Back to School from now until September 10th! I also finally posted some items in larger sizes that I had been hoarding. My job has become particularly taxing lately and I am hoping to be able to quit some day soon and focus on Etsy (I know, I know, I keep saying this...I can dream!). My school is an hour away, so that means there are new thrift stores to be explored! Which means more things for the shop. Pray to the job/stress fairy for me, won't you? ;)

My So-Called Inspiration

2009-08-27T16:16:00.004-04:00

I love the '90s. It's one of the eras I grew up in, so naturally I'm nostalgic, right?! If I haven't mentioned it before, I also love TV shows. They're like...one long, complicated movie :O So obviously, TV show + the '90s = YES! Recently I have discovered My So-Called Life, and can't get enough. Before this, I was obsessed with Dawson's Creek. Then there's Boy Meets World, Fresh Prince, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (still working on this one!), Friends, Seinfield...even Sex & the City started in the 1990's.

Deep green dress: Thrifted
Caramel booties: Thrifted
Transparent black tights: Thrifted
Floral carpet bag: Vintage, Chelsea's.

(Sorry for the awkward pose, it was raining a bit so I was trying to hurry!)

Not to mention movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless, Jawbreaker...I mean seriously, it's good stuff xD! Angsty teen mallrats, cute wholesome boys, high school drama...And don't get me started about what's on my Ipod (Violent Femmes, The Cranberries, oh my!). Okay, I will shut up haha. But the point is that it inspired me to try to put together a '90s-ish outfit. I could have done a big plaid shirt, Doc Martens, etc, but I was trying not to look costumey! I know it could use some accessories, but I'm at a loss when it comes to that stuff. Anyway, I'm going to try to do a Fat Love Friday post tomorrow, but I have school and work all weekend, so we'll see how it goes. On that note, thanks for putting up with my sporadic posting <3!

Bento Experiments

2009-08-24T21:31:00.007-04:00

Like a lot of bloggers, I started school today! One of the things I wanted to do was save money and eat better, so I decided to start packing my lunch. Being the slight Japan freak I am, I invested in a bento box awhile ago and I actually look forward to coming up with ways to fit my tasty snacks all neatly together! It's quite smaller portions than we Americans are used to haha, but I have found you can pack a good amount of things, and it really keeps you full. Here are two I've made so far:

Top tier: Cucumber & cream cheese sandwiches and blueberries.
Bottom tier: Organic vanilla yogurt and granola with almonds.
Extra tier: Deviled eggs
Little snacks: Babybel cheese wheel, Pocky, and fruity Japanese candy. (For the commute!)

Packed and ready to go the night before! That's an Organic strawberry beer I've been hoarding for the last week, I need to just drink it already :P Yum.

Top tier: Broccoli salad, cherry tomatoes, and hard boiled egg.
Bottom tier: Dove caramel chocolates, cottage cheese and peach slices.

I think this leaf design is adorable :D!! It even came with chopsticks. Plus, I love funny little English sayings they put on things sometimes. It says "I love natural blessing." Aw! These are super simple and sort of non-traditional bentos, but some people get really into them, making their food into all kinds of shapes and designs. In fact, check out this Flickr group if you get a chance, it's so inspiring! Hopefully I'll have more to show you if I can keep up with making them :)

P.S. Anyone going to school at the Western campus Tri-C in Ohio? I feel like such a new kid! I don't have much time between classes, but I'd love to see a friendly face or meet for coffee or something ^_^.

Hayao Miyazaki - Part Two

2009-08-18T14:55:00.004-04:00

1997: Mononoke-Hime (Princess Mononoke)

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Thoughts: Supposedly it took Miyazaki 16 years to fully develop this story. But it all paid off, because at one time it was the highest grossing film in Japan. It also won several awards. This one also has themes about human impact on nature and also portrayed the military in a negative light. It was also, in my opinion, his most violent. This one wasn't my favorite (mainly because I had a hard time separating it from his lighter, more family-friendly tales), but I do remember enjoying it.

2001: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Daveigh Chase (Lilo of Lilo & Stitch), Susan Egan (Megara in Disney's Hercules)

Thoughts: My favorite! I'm not sure why I like this one the most, to be honest. I thought it was a story mostly about being brave, and I found myself really admiring the main character. I was also really fascinated by the traditional bath house. There was also the friendship between the other main character that I just found so endearing. This movie also takes place in a more realistic city as opposed to a fantastic land or countryside.

2004: Hauru no Ugoku Shiro (Howl's Moving Castle).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, Jena Malone, Lauren Bacall.

Thoughts: A romance! I think these are the oldest characters, as Sophie is supposed to be around 18. First of all, I LOVED the idea of a moving castle - genius! I also loved the character Calcifer and found him funny. I also loved the end of this film. I wasn't too keen on the villians in this one, but ah well. It also had a military element, like many of his other films.

2008: Gake no Ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Matt Damon.

Thoughts: This was DEFINITELY the prettiest! It had such amazing colors and textures. I also love the work they did with the water. I thought this one was the most geared for children. The plot, to me, was definitely not as cohesive and straightforward as his other works. I also really loved Ponyo's mother's character! It actually kind of struck me as a new take on The Little Mermaid. It wasn't my favorite, but it was very different from the other movies and I thought it was really cute and colorful.

Sources: Youtube, Wikipedia, International Movie Database.

P.S. I know I'm missing at least two of his other works, but I haven't seen them yet!

Hayao Miyazaki - Part One

2009-08-18T13:21:00.005-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts! I've been having some troubles lately, but nothing too serious. I'd really like to keep this a place of positivity so I won't go into detail, but I've found something to be cheered up about! Not fashion or vintage related, but I hope you enjoy it :D! (And don't worry, I'm cooking up some of those posts, too!)

I have loved Hayao Miyazaki (Born January 5, 1941) films ever since I first saw My Neighbor Totoro as a little girl. First of all, if you don't know who he is, he is a Japanese filmmaker/writer/director/artist who has been called the "Walt Disney of Japan." (Though supposedly he hates being called that.) In fact on his last few films he now works with Disney Studios. Surprisingly, he graduated college with a degree in political science and economics, not art or film. In 1985, he founded Studio Ghibli, which is now quite famous.

Here are some of his most well-known films, in order of release date, and some brief thoughts on them:

1984: Kaze no Tani no Naushika (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Uma Thurman, Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Shia LaBeouf.

Thoughts: I don't enjoy war/conflict themed stories as much as other people might, so I'm a little biased I guess. This is the first time I saw his flying/aircraft and creature work. I was also impressed with the female lead, which I came to realize is very common in his films. It deals with technology and also portrays an obvious concern with human impact on the environment.

1986: Tenku no Shiro Rapyuta (Laputa: Castle in the Sky).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin, Andy Dick, Mark Hamill.

Thoughts: This one was very sweet. It's sort of that classic "treasure hunt" plot, where they go in search of a mythical land. I loved that this one took place in the sky, with all the floating/flying/etc. LOTS of aircrafts in this one, but much less military-esque and dark than Nausicaa. Definitely one his most most adventure-themed movies.

1988: Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro).

Famous voices (in the dubbed version): Dakota Fanning.

Thoughts: This is probably my second favorite. It was actually dubbed twice, the most recent one featuring Dakota Fanning. I actually HATED this new one, so I highly suggest seeing the original dubbed version! This is just a story about the magic of being a child, and the bond between sisters and between fathers and daughters. It's a very sweet, innocent story. Plus it has a very catchy theme song O_O.

1989: Majo no Takkyubin (Kiki's Delivery Service).

Famous Voices: Kirsten Dunst, Matthew Lawrence.

Thoughts: I really identified with this one, as I think a lot of young girls did. It was probably most easy to relate to of all his films. It's about a young witch growing up, trying to find her place in life. I also think this is as a close to a romance as Miyazaki gets in any of his films (probably because these characters seem the oldest he's dealt with). I also really liked her cat companion. I guess growing up in America, you can't help growing up with a love of talking animals haha.

Sources: Youtube, Wikipedia, International Movie Database.

A Spoonful of Sugar

2009-08-08T19:01:00.005-04:00

Vintage dress: Livejournal sale
Teal bow flats: H&M
Cream knit cardigan: Kohl's (shouldn't sweaters be out by now!? They were so hard to find :O)
Vintage taupe bag: Coach, thrifted

Finally an outfit post, yeesh! I wore this to go see Mary Poppins on Broadway with my mom and sister the other night :) I haven't been to many shows, so it's always such a special occasion to get dressed up to go. If you haven't seen it, you really should! I must have seen the Disney version about a million times and I really enjoyed the stage adaptation. Though I can't help but be nostalgic and favor the movie! It was a particularly educational gig for me, too, because we made sure to go the signed performance so I could see the ASL interpretation :D Which just added to the experience!

Here was by far my favorite part of the performance, and then the second is the original 1964 version. Enjoy!

Crafts Intended For Children

2009-08-05T23:37:00.005-04:00

While I'm feeling uninspired with my closet, it seems I've strayed from the usual fashion related topics so far this week. Just bear with me a little longer! If all goes according to plan there should be an outfit post tomorrow, since I did plan an outfit for my trip downtown to see Mary Poppins tomorrow evening :) But more on that later!

For now I wanted to share a nerdy little hobby of mine. Now, I haven't made any for quite awhile but it's just because I haven't been able to decide if I should put them up on Etsy or not. If you aren't familiar with what they are, they are made out of perler beads. To make them, you use a board with small pegs, arrange the beads, and then iron them to melt it together! I'm kind of a cartoon/SNES character freak, so that's what I usually make.

They can be used as car ornaments, coasters, wall hangings, magnets, Christmas ornaments, or whatever else you might imagine! Some of them (like the Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Chibi-Chibi) can be quite large if you use several boards together.

So I need some advice! Do you think they would sell? It's okay to say if you don't think so! If so, what do you think would be fair prices? Which characters would you like to see made? Any input is dearly appreciated :D!

Happy Berry from Paradise Kiss (Anime and manga series).

Kamek and Lemmy Koopa from Super Mario Bros.

Alice from Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

Sugar Bunnies from Sanrio.

Chicken Dinner Candybar: A History

2009-08-04T17:50:00.003-04:00

A few folks have asked me where the name Chicken Dinner Candybar came from, so I thought I'd answer here just in case anyone was curious :)!

"Chicken Dinner" was the name of a real candy bar that was produced in the early '20s by Sperry Candy, a company based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The unusual name was meant to echo the feeling of well-being and prosperity associated with “a chicken in every pot”—a slogan that went back to Henry IV of France and which would be revived for the 1928 Republican campaign. And it was pretty popular, too! It stayed in production for nearly 40 years before being discontinued in the 1960's.

They even had a Chicken Dinner truck! No doubt inspired by the Oscar Meyer wiener mobile. As for the actual taste, it was supposedly some sort of chocolate nut roll.

I guess I chose it as a name for this blog and my Etsy store is because well, first of all I think the name is kind of catchy! It's a little long, but it's got a little ring to it :) Plus I think the whole approach to selling the Sperry Candy creation is kind of hilarious! Makes me think of the fictional "3 course gum" in Willy Wonka! Chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans all crammed into a neat little rectangle...haha.

I thought of more serious or "prettier" names (I was convinced I was going to use the names "Classic Energy Vintage" or "The Festooned Macaroon" but thankfully was convinced they didn't sound quite right :P!) But basically I thought it was lighthearted and fun and just fit somehow :D

Sources: Here, here, and here.

Etsy Update/Selling

2009-07-31T17:23:00.003-04:00

Just a handful of new items in the shop! The "New York Summer dress" is actually something I bought from another seller, but sadly it came in the mail today and didn't fit. I thought I would just take in the bust and hem it, but I'm told for it to fit properly I'd have to pay a hefty sum in complicated alterations. Ah well, into the shop it goes! The other plus size dresses I've posted for the ladies over at Fatshionista, where they'll be for the weekend and whatever is left over will go into the shop. The purple gingham dress is listed over there, as well an adorble green floral wiggle dress and several other things.

This is also listed over there, but I thought maybe one you gals might be interested. I'm selling a brand new Anthropologie skirt I've had hanging unloved in my closet for what seems like forever! It's a bit snug on me and really, I just don't have any occasion to wear such a fancy thing! If no one is interested, it'll be up on Ebay in a few days. If you are, just drop me a comment here or an e-mail at: chickendinnercandybar@yahoo.com

Additional photos: Detail on hem. Tag. Authenticity.

Marked size: USA 12
Waist: 34"
Length: 27"
Material: 55% Viscose 45% Nylon

Price: I'm asking $75, but I will be glad to accept offers. It really must go!

Sorry for such a rushed/disorganized post! Fat Love Friday is here to stay (despite the controversy in the previous post), so don't worry! It's just not as regular as I'd like it to be. Also apologies for the lack of outfit posts, I've been a little uninspired, but I'm thinking that will change in the next few days :)

The Permanent Pout

2009-07-29T20:34:00.004-04:00

When I think of vintage style, one of the first elements that comes to mind is a red lip. It's considered a classic, and I think it's here to stay! And trust me, I have spent a fair amount of time annoying sales girls as I try to choose the perfect shade. I am a picky person in general, and lipsticks are no exception. I prefer smooth, matte shades in just about all areas of beauty and really can’t get into sparkly or pearl finish products. I was just telling my friend the other day how drugstore cosmetic shopping would be so much easier if they only listed the type of finish!

You might think all reds are the same, but ah! Apparently it isn’t so. There’s your coral red, blue tone red, yellow tone, ones that wear more brownish - it can be a confusing thing! And well, sorry to disappoint, but I don’t think I’ve found my perfect shade yet. Truth be told, a bold lip makes me pretty self-conscious! Someone told me once to wear it around the house for awhile to get comfortable, and even though I feel silly, I may just try that.

Part of my search includes of course, scouring flickr and bloggy folk. And boy, did I find some lovely ones! I even found out what color/brand they are so that perhaps you might do some trying out yourself if you’re on the hunt like me!

Solanah - Chanel Red Velvet (or she suggests her cheaper alternative too, Revlon Really Red!)

Johanna - Flamenco by Clinique (discontinued, but you can find it on Ebay!)

Diary of a Vintage Girl - MAC Viva Glam I

Piksi - A combination of MAC Russian Red and So Chaud.

The Stylish Wanderer - MAC Ruby Woo

Super Kawaii Mama - Boots No. 7 Moulin Rouge

When it comes to beauty products, I spend a lot of time researching beforehand, and one place I always check out is Makeup Alley. Not only does it have tons of awesome reviews, but you can actually swap on there, too! (And yes, I do! If you're worried about sanitation issues, just use alcohol for lipsticks, baby shampoo for brushes, etc. A lot of ladies even swap brand new sealed stuff.) You can find me on there as "starry9oclocksky" if you wanna trade :)! Oh! And if you're looking for swatches, check out Karla Sugar.

Anyway, I’ve already tried most of the MAC shades above (though I do love other MAC lipsticks! Like High Tea & Touch), and I'm way too poor for Chanel, so I guess I'll just have to keep on keepin' on. Back to the drawing board!

P.S. Thanks a million to all the pretty ladies I bothered about their lipstick color :D!

Sweet Finds Roundup

2009-07-27T23:59:00.010-04:00

I spent the majority of the day with my mom. She’s pretty much the best mom ever. Ever since I was little, whenever I have hobbies or projects, she loves to help me any way she can. So lately, she’s been helping me with the shop! She even found two awesome dresses while her and my dad were on one of their little day trips. So today we tackled my “to be mended/washed” pile. Since I dislike sewing so much (to put it mildly!) I did the easy stuff - the trying on, the seam ripping, getting stuck with pins! etc. We particularly spent a lot of time (and only half the time bickering :P) on a dress I bought from Effie recently. I can’t wait to wear it, but jeez I think we altered it every possible way (as I had expected when I bought it, I just love the print so much)! So I’ll save the reveal of that one until I get it ready to wear.

But I also wanted to show you some of things I’ve bought in the last month or so! The most recent dress came from a trendy little boutique in Akron called Revival that also sells a bit of vintage and secondhand stuff. I’m trying to make myself choose between this one and the purple gingham one I wore in this post. Because really, how many purple and white dresses does a gal need :P? Any votes? (And yes, I’m still on the “Little House” kick, clearly!)

Next is a super feminine number I bought from Cynara, if some of you remember her from when she was featured here! I sort of stake out the mailbox these days, waiting for it to get here haha.

This is a lipstick case my parents found at an antique shop for $1! I’m so smitten I think I’ve decided to collect them. (And can you guess which movie I’ll be watching tonight ;D?)

From the same place I found this pretty little… decoration? For $5. I can’t decide what I like best about it - the prints on those little kimonos, the “frozen” - ness of it, or the whole “I love anything in miniature” thing! I’d love to know how old it is…

These two bags! I really love these simple leather bags. The brown one is actually not a Coach, just a very good replica. It is leather though, made by Wilson’s. The beige one is Coach, and I paid a little more than I’d have like to spend ($25), since you can find them just about anywhere. But still thrift stores mark them up, ugh! I guess they know silly people like me will buy them :P Both are thrifted.

This dress I bought awhile ago from JessJamesJake, and you might remember it from thi s post. I really, really like it, but feel like it’s more of an autumn dress so I haven‘t worn it yet. I have no idea how to style it for cooler weather though…help!?

Along with all the hemmin’ and washin’ I took photos of a bunch of new things for the shop. Most of them are brought to you by my bff Bettie, if anyone remembers her? Initially, we intended to share this blog but it turns out being a social butterfly doesn’t leave much time for bloggin’. Now if you’re a hermit like me, on the other hand… :) Anyway, I’ll get to listing those before the end of the week. As for the plus size update I keep talking about, I’ve been pondering what to do with them. I’d like to give the wonderful ladies at Fatshionista the pick of the litter, or should I post them here?

A gaggle of Ken dolls bid you good night! (Check out that pastel guy, what a charmer!)

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Business edition.

2009-07-24T02:17:00.008-04:00

One of the greatest things I’ve enjoyed about blogging is discovering what wonderful business talent ladies have out there. Personally, I really don’t enjoy working for someone else and dream of the day I’ll be able to quit my day job (I think I mentioned it in a previous post, but if not I work at Borders Books & Café). No co-workers, no silly rules, cranky customers, no rejected time off! So if that’s your dream, too, I figure I can give you a few tips I’ve learned so far on this journey to help you along as well! But first I’m going to share what two successful ladies had to say about the subject (who you probably have already heard of!) They were both super sweet and I really think the world of them for taking some time to answer my questions! I interviewed Rhiannon of Liebemarlene and Anja of Clever Nettle. Check out their wise words!

1. When did you start selling things online?

Rhiannon: I first started selling things on Etsy in 2006, I think , sort of just to get rid of some of the old dresses I had around that didn't really fit me or look good on me. I never thought I could making a living off of it, and I just got excited whenever I'd actually sell something!

Anja: I've been selling things online ever since I was in high school. Right before and after I graduated (in 2001) I was selling commissioned drawings to a girl in Minnesota, and one time I even sold a magazine ad for the tv show Trading Spaces on ebay for ten bucks! Who would buy that? It was pretty weird. I started on Etsy in 2005 and left Ebay behind not too long after that.

2. Rhiannon, what kind of jobs did you hold before opening your own online store?

Rhiannon: Oh, not-great ones. Different secretary jobs, and a job at a sort-of orphanage taking care of kids, and I loved the kids, but I had to be an authoritarian with them, which I was awful at. The only thing I was good at was teaching them how to knit.

3. Anja, is Clever Nettle your full time job? (I knew it was Rhiannon’s ;D)

Anja: Yes, and it has been since November of 2007 when I was happily fired from my last job at a cookie store. At first I thought about trying to get a part-time job in addition to selling on etsy, but things have progressed and my business has grown enough that I don't need an extra job, nor would I have time for one. Vintage has been taking up most of my time but I want to start working more on art too.

4. Rhiannon, what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of Ebay and Etsy?

Rhiannon: I've sold on both and I probably prefer Ebay, if only because I'm used to it. I like that an Ebay store can be customized . . . As a whole, Etsy looks nicer, but it's harder to give an Etsy shop its own individual look, but you can load your Ebay shop up with all sorts of HTML. Etsy is nice because it just looks more streamlined and organized.

5. Rhiannon, about how long was it before you were successful enough to work for yourself?

Rhiannon: I was working at a part-time job, selling vintage clothing on Ebay on the side for about 4 months before I decided to drop the job and do Ebay full-time.

6. Any advice on how to market your business?

Rhiannon: I think the very best thing you can do is set up a blog--you'll be able to give customers a better idea of who you are and what kinds of things you sell, and it's probably the best marketing tool as well. Advertising on other blogs and in online magazines seems to work well too though I've never done it myself. But I've seen brand new Etsy shops explode in popularity after just one or two well-placed ads.

Anja: I don't know a lot about marketing, but I always try to be conscious of the line between putting your business out there respectably and annoying people with constant reminders that you have a shop. I've had online journals for a really long time so starting a blog was an easy step to take, and I think that blogging (and being linked from other blogs that I like) has been the best way of marketing my shop without really having to try very hard or go overboard with promotions. The internet is big and once you find your online crew things sort of fall into place. The vintage blogging community is just awesome! I think we support each other in a cool way, I'm always happy to see photos of the dresses I've sold in outfit photos on someone else's blog, and I love to show off what I buy from my favorite etsy shops too, which in turn hopefully helps them sell more too!

7. What do you think are some of the most important things to do when you start selling?

Rhiannon: I think it's best to build up an online shop and fill it with the sorts of things you like best, rather than what you think will be good sellers. And find a way to display the things you sell in a way that stands out from the others . . .

Anja: I think it's important to really sit down and think about what you want your shop to be. If you can start with a clear, cohesive plan (what will my photos look like? what will I sell? what will my shop name be? how can I be different than other shops?), you'll be doing yourself a lot of favors. I didn't really think about that stuff when I started my vintage shop on etsy, but I've learned a lot and am working backwards from mismatched clutter into a neat, tidy shop.

8. Any last bits of advice?

Rhiannon: I guess, to only get into the business if it's something you really love and will have fun with! It's a lot of work, and there are definitely boring, everyday job aspects to it, but if you love hunting down vintage (or making things to sell on Etsy) then it will be worth it.

Anja: Make sure you are starting a shop based on a true love or interest, because that love is what will keep you going when you're feeling worn out. My brain spends a ridiculous amount of time thinking about vintage clothing and if I didn't love it so much, I'd probably be feeling just as crazy as I used to at the "real" jobs that I hated. Also, set little goals and develop tricks that you can use to keep yourself motivated and on task, because there's no one around else to tell you that maybe it's time to wrap up packages instead of watching the newest episode of Australia's Next Top Model, haha.

A few additional tips from my personal experience:

1. Always buy delivery confirmation. Just trust me!

2. When selling on Etsy and you’re having a sale, send a few messages to people who have added you to their favorites letting them know.

3. Do start a blog. And comment on others! But try to refrain from being pushy about having them visit or link to you. Just leave honest, thoughtful comments where you think they’re deserved! And try to comment back, it’s always very appreciated.

4. Join social networking sites. This is something I’ve been working on lately. I sort of hate Facebook and Myspace, but I did join Twitter today! Try Flickr, Livejournal communities, Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook, Modepass, the list goes on…

5. Post pictures. An all-text blog is really just not as appealing.

6. Use photoshop or another editing program. I don't do anything terribly complicated, but it's good for simple things like adjusting image size or sharpening, etc! If you can keep a secret, I downloaded mine at Isohunt.com :P But if you don't want to fool with any of that, consider paying someone who can! Aya of Strawberry Koi did my header and she's very reasonable!

7. List often. I struggle with this one myself!

That’s all I can think of for now, but I hope this helps anyone thinking about starting an online shop. Good luck, gals!

We Love Colors Giveaway Winner!

2009-07-22T23:32:00.004-04:00

The winner of the We Love Colors tights giveaway was entry #16 (chosen by a random number generator from Random.org) - Diane of Darling, Darling! Yay, congrats! You should expect an e-mail shortly ^_^.

I'm definitely be cooking up another giveaway, so don't worry if you didn't win this time!

Etsy Update

2009-07-22T19:20:00.004-04:00

Lots of summery finds this time! Oh, I do hope someone snaps up that perfect white summer dress and the little '50s bathing suit top! If only I could wear them myself...But I have to say, I've had some pretty good luck with shopping lately so I can't complain :P I'm so, so late for hanging out with the boyfriend, so I'll just leave you with a few little notes:

I'm announcing the winner of the WeLoveColors giveaway later tonight - so exciting! There's still a few hours to enter, though!

And I've got a 20% off promotion running in the shop just for the heck of it, so check out what we've got if you'd like :)

A true Libra...

2009-07-21T19:38:00.003-04:00

Vintage purple gingham dress: Chelsea's on W116th Lakewood, OH.
Big decorated straw bag: thrifted
White woven flats: thrifted

True to my astrological sign, I am the indecisive Libra :P I bought this dress at one of my favorite vintage stores. I don't want to give away too much about it, because when I get around to it I'm going to dedicate an entire post to Chelsea's. I'm planning an Etsy update with larger sizes probably late this week or early next (regular update tonight or tomorrow!) and this is one I'm thinking about putting into the shop...It's a bit tight in the bust, but my mom says she could take out the darts and it would be fine. It's also a liiitttllee more sheer than I usually like (and honestly, I hate to fuss with slips and all that :P!) but it's so perfect for summer... Thoughts?

I have so many wonderful things to post about this week, so expect a bit of an overload of posts! Last night I didn't go to bed until 6am working on things for the blog + shop, and while I'm a night owl, I was a bit groggy all day and don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon...Wish I could commit to a decent sleep schedule, sheesh!

I'm definitely keeping the straw bag though! It's really roomy, and I can't stand a tiny purse - so into the collection it goes! Anyway, be seein' ya!

The Scent Story

2009-07-21T04:04:00.004-04:00

Photo by mylulabelles.

Perfume is something I’ve grown up with. They say that scent the strongest sense tied to memory, and I think this is so true! I think it’s such a mysterious art, and it’s something I’ve become more and more interested in as I get older. I hope to one day try my hand at making my own! I actually worked in a perfume shop for a short time last year. It’s also special to me because it’s something my mom and I share - each year around Christmas time we go to Macy’s and pick out a new scent for that year. So! I thought it would be fun to share my little perfume story :D

1. “Sunflower” by Elizabeth Arden was my first perfume ever. I was probably about 10 when I got this? I didn’t wear it very often, but I still like it to this day! It’s pretty cheap, I’ve been meaning to pick up a bottle at Wal*Mart just for kicks!

Ingredients: Bergamot, Melon, Peach, Osmanthus, Jasmine, Cyclamen, Sandalwood, Moss.

2. “Curious” by Britney Spears was probably the next one. I wasn’t particularly a fan of hers, but when I was younger I really liked her perfume! I found it got old really fast for me though.

Ingredients: Louisiana Magnolia, Golden Anjou Pear, Lotus Flower, Tuberose, Star Jasmine, Pink Cyclamen, Vanilla Infused Musk, Sandalwood, Blonde Woods.

3. “With Love” by Hilary Duff. Again, the celebrity really had nothing to do with the choice, but I did really like Lizzie MacGuire at the time! I was really attracted to the shape of the bottle, too.

Ingredients: Milk, Fruit, Mangosteen, Musk, Flower, Exotic Spices, Amber, Cocobolo Wood

4. “Heavenly” by Victoria’s Secret. I actually got this as a gift from a school friend in junior high. I wonder if she knows I still wear this one occasionally! Not my favorite anymore though…

Ingredients: Vanilla quince, Cardamom, White peony, Freesia, White musk, Sandalwood.

5. “Brit” by Burberry. Unfortunately my boyfriend thinks this smells like “his grandmother’s couch” haha but I was really excited about this one a few years ago! It’s true though, a little goes a long way.

Ingredients: Italian Lime, Icy Pear, Green Almond, White Peony, Sugared Almonds, Amber, Mahogany, Vanilla, Tonka Bean.

6. “Amour” by Kenzo. This one is really different from anything I have. It’s very powdery and sweet. I wore it a lot last winter. I love all of the asian influences!

Ingredients: Frangipani Blossoms from Bali or Borobudur, Cherry Blossoms from Japan, Tanakha Wood, Incense, Thai Rice Steam, Vanilla of La Réunion, White Tea from China.

7. “Lovely” by Sarah Jessica Parker. My mom and I share this one actually. It’s kind of a sophisticated smell to me, and I think my mom wears it more than me.

Ingredients: Lavender, Orchid, Amber, Apple Martini, Paper Whites, Musk.

8. “Fancy” by Jessica Simpson. This is what I wear…if I want to smell like dessert :P It’s probably the sweetest perfume I own.

Ingredients: amber crystals, apricot nectar, pear, gardenia, jasmine, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, red fruits, toasted almonds.

9. “Daisy” by Marc Jacobs. My everyday fragrance. I’m not usually a fan of such intense florals (usually I tend towards the sweeter stuff) but I really like this one!

Ingredients: Strawberry, Violet Leaves, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Gardenia, Violet Petals, Jasmine Petals, Musk, Vanilla, White Woods.

10. “Princess” by Vera Wang. This is one of my current favorites. I only have a small vial of it, so I try to use it sparingly. It makes me feel really feminine and pretty J! I also think it’s one of my (oh jeez)…sexier scents :O

Ingredients: Water Lily, Lady Apple, Mandarin Meringue, Golden Apricot Skin, Ripe Pink Guava, Tahitian Flower, Wild Tuberose, Dark Chocolate, Pink Frosting Accord, Precious Amber, Forbidden Woods, Royal Musk Captive, Chiffon Vanilla.

11. “Hot” by Ralph Lauren. Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of RL’s perfumes. But I made an exception to this one. Even though I hate the bottle (designed for a 13 year old, looks like!) I really love the scent. This is pretty strictly my “night time” perfume because it’s a lot heavier than the other ones. And (yes, I’ll say it again, yikes!) sexy, too :P I read a review once that said it smelled like pancakes and maple syrup…Kinda true!

Ingredients: Spices, Lime, Amber, Fig Leaf, Mandarin Orange, Musk, Orchid, Almond Blossom, Vanilla, Jasmine, Citrus, Sandalwood, Geranium.

12. To make it an even dozen my newest will be Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Twilight,” which I ordered today. Not to be confused with the Twilight series perfume (oh, Lord)! I really like the story behind this one, too…It’s a division of her Lovely line, that is part of a set of three, the other two being Dawn and Endless. The idea is to record moments of her life, as Dawn is a dewy, morning smell, and Twilight is the sensual, mysterious smell…Makes "scents"! (Eep, I'm so bad at puns...)

A few perfume tips I’ve learned!:

1. It can last up to 8 years if stored properly (out of sunlight in cooler temperatures. You can even put them in the fridge!)

2. Difference between an EDP and an EDT? EDPs (Eau de Parfum) are more intense and last longer. EDTs (Eau de Toilettes) are a little weaker, but are usually less expensive.

3. Don’t buy full size!! Unless you have one signature scent that you use every day, I’d suggest looking online for smaller sizes. Ebay and other sites sometimes divide up large bottles and sell them in sample sizes.

4. Try it on your skin before you buy. Spray a little on your wrist and smell it over the next few hours - everyone’s body chemistry is different!

5. If they aren’t sitting out, ask the counter attendant for the coffee beans. Smell them periodically so that your nose doesn’t get overwhelmed!

Oh, and if you were curious, my mom wears Chanel No. 5, Beloved by American Beauty, Red Door, White Shoulders, and Lovely by SJP…to name a few :P Clearly she is a lady of the classics ;)

So...what do you wear? I'm so curious!

Fat Love Friday #4 - On Sunday, Oops!

2009-07-19T14:33:00.006-04:00

First up is Sandra, aka MadamOwl. I have to give her the award for most effortless style ever. She just has this look that says to me “Yeah, I just roll out of bed with this kind of perfection.” Lately I’ve had some sort of fashion epiphany (haha) where I realized that I don’t really like what I call a contrived style - anything that looks too thought out or too fussed with. Lots of matching, super clean and pressed stiff, no thanks!

I find myself drawing inspiration from her a LOT. Her outfits are usually 100% thrifted, which is also something to aspire to! Lately I’ve broken down and bought new or at least more expensive secondhand, but Sandra really comes up with some creative stuff (I’m loving the tshirt under a dress with chucks combo, totally going to try that at some point!) There's also a sort of youthfulness about her style that I love.

The thing I’d say I most admire about her though is her attitude! I think her wardrobe really communicates a philosophy, which seems to say “I wear what I like and I don’t mind anything you have to say about it,” which in my opinion, is much easier said than done.

The second beautiful lady is one I found just today! She is Marie of Agent Lover. First of all, my old love of Japanese street fashion is seriously rekindled. Fashion and clothes aside for a moment, I have to say her blog is hilarious. I don’t know about any of you, but once in awhile I have a tendency to skip over words and go straight for the photos on a blog, but so is not the case here! She’s so upbeat and spunky in her writing it really wears off on you!

As for her style, I really love the sass that comes across in her outfits. Spider hats, corn on the cob nails, she knows no boundaries! I think the biggest element of fashion and style is confidence, and this gal has definitely got some. I'm definitely inspired by the whimsy and playfulness of her outfits (heart sunglasses, giant bows, nerdy specs, yes please!)

P.S. Don't forget to enter the WeLoveColors tights giveaway - it ends midnight (12pm Eastern) on Wednesday!

Daily Outfit x 2!

2009-07-18T15:05:00.005-04:00

Left:
"Mermaid" dress: Thrifted and shortened
Black crossbody bag: Etsy (sorry, you'll be seeing this one a lot!)
Sandals: Saltwater sandals (I'm livin' in these babies!)

Right:
"Science" dress: Thrifted and altered (hemmed and made into short sleeves)
Pink kisslock purse: Childhood remnant
Maroon tights: WeLoveColors
Studded ballet slippers: DIY

Couple of notes! The little pink bag I've had since I was little. I've almost gotten rid of it so many times now, but could never part with it :P The left I wore to go see Harry Potter, and the left I wore around the house and to the store after work today. The tights are definitely my favorite element of the outfit, I was so glad it was cool enough to wear them today! WeLoveColors are the only tights I really buy, to be honest with you. They're so soft and durable and it was so nice to be able to choose from such a large variety of sizes and colors. These ones are a mouth-watering raspberry color (called "Maroon" on their color chart). Plan on seeing their tights here a lot! (And don't miss out on a chance to win some in the giveaway!)

The plum/red dress actually has darling gold buttons with atoms on them! That's why I've been referring to it as the science dress :P My camera is acting up lately, especially with up close shots, so I think I need to read the manual to fix that! It was really matronly too before I had it hemmed and the long sleeves turned into short ones. Like I said before, I hate sewing, so I was happy to swap favors with a neighbor lady! I made her business cards in exchange for the alterations :).

Anyway, a quick post today! I'm working this weekend and I have a mountain of homework, ick. I'm still going to do Fat Love Friday (I've got two wonderful chickies picked out!), but it'll have to be posted tomorrow. Gah, I was never very good with deadlines...

Shopping Habits + Mini DIY Projects

2009-07-16T15:37:00.005-04:00

It's funny when you really take a look into your room, you kinda learn a little about yourself! So I thought it might be fun to share the kinds of things I somehow ended up collecting, or I guess the things I've realized I have a tendency to buy. It's been good because now I see that I have enough of certain things and I'll have a better idea of what I "need" when I go shopping again :).

Wow, I'm really into warm tones I guess! So now I am strictly enforcing the no red, pink, orange, yellow, or brown ban. This is especially odd because my favorite colors are green and blue. So I quickly remedied that this morning and bought the most gorgeous blue dress on Etsy, which I will post in due time :)...

I live at home at the moment, and so I try not to buy too many housewares...but I just can't resist these tins! I think they're called "Daner" tins, as far as I've been able to research, and are made mostly in England. Originally they seemed to be used for storing tea. In my future kitchen, I plan on putting a whole lot of them on a shelf above the stove and using them to store all kinds of goodies besides tea :D

Bags with buckles <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y83/peachhips/m2.png">

Initial memoribila. Eek, a little narcissistic I know. But I think when something is personalized it makes it a little bit special and little more you. I made this wooden initial pin some time ago, I wear it usually on my work apron. If you're into DIY projects, simply: 1. Buy a wooden letter. I found this one in a 2 pack at Joanne Fabrics. 2. Stain and let dry for at least 24 hrs, or longer. 3. Once dry, hot glue a pin back onto it. Let dry for an hour or so. Ta da!

This was a Christmas gift, though I'd love to try to make one myself.

This is a habit I'd call a bad one. Flats, flats, flats! I have three pairs of heels: one black pair, one brown pair, and a multi-color pair for fun. I really love them but I find them pretty much unbearable if I need to do any amount of walking. But surely there are comfortable heels? Anyway, these two are my favorites lately. The light blue denimish ones on the right I thrifted, and they are incredibly comfortable. The ones on the left were inspired by The Clothes Horse. I fell in love with the black pair she got from Bona Drag, and I ran (or rather, clicked) straight there ready to buy a pair, but suffered from sticker shock and decided not to.

So I decided to just make them myself! I ended up not being the first to have this idea and found a tutorial, which worked perfectly. The only thing I did differently was at the end when you're all finished, use duck tape for the inside instead of electrical tape - much more comfortable. I bought the shoe at AllAboutDance.com for about $20 including shipping, the studs for a few dollars on Ebay, and everything else I had around the house.

Now I'm off to enjoy a dinner of fried squash, corn on the cob, fresh green beans, and cherries! I love summer :D

We Love Colors Giveaway

2009-07-15T19:06:00.004-04:00

Yay, another giveaway :D! The friendly folks at WeLoveColors have allowed me to giveaway TWO pairs of tights to one lucky winner. I don't know about you, but as you can see, I'm pretty crazy about these tights. Personally I already have them in Black, Maroon, Scarlet Red, Medium Blue, Grey, Mocha, and Hunter Green. They have them in almost every dreamy shade imaginable (come winter time, I've got my eyes on a few more even!), including beautiful multi-colored ones they call their Splash tights. Choose one of three ways to enter:

♥ Post a comment here with a link to your favorite We Love Colors item.
♥ Follow We Love Colors on Twitter and post your Twitter username here.
♥ Post about this giveaway in your blog, and leave a link to your blog entry.

ALSO: Please make sure to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blog so that we contact you if you win!

The (1) winner will recieve TWO (2) pairs of tights in the colors and size of her choosing. Keep in mind they offer sizes up to 3x, and will be chosen at random and announced one week from today (Wednesday, July 22). Good luck, gals!

P.S. Curious to see how I wore them? My personal account of how comfortable they are? Stay tuned this week to see my review!

The Practical Lady According to Candybar: Plus size shopping edition.

2009-07-14T14:02:00.007-04:00

How nice would it be to flip through this month’s issue of Vogue and, along with all things fashion
and beauty related - find a sewing pattern, a recipe, financial advice? From what I understand, women’s magazines aren’t what they used to be. Not that I haven’t bought my fair share of Vogues, Elle, and Cosmos, but to be honest with you I don’t think I bothered with 99% of the articles there. I guess the point of these types of publications is to communicate runway fashion and trends to the masses, and that’s all well and good, but for most of us it’s a “use once and discard” situation - look at the pictures and throw it away, save for a few inspiring photos to scrapbook or to cover your wall with if you’re 14. Some are catching on with blogger articles and such, as far as the fashion stuff goes, but there really isn’t as much practical advice as their used to be. Women’s magazines of the olden days valued practicality and thriftiness. What happened?

So I’ve decided to start a new regular feature, The Practical Lady According to Candybar. I hope you get at least a little something out of these “articles!” I’ve already sort of done something like this without realizing it when I posted about thrifting tips awhile back. So this time we’ll be talking about plus size shopping.

1. My first, and I figure my most important tip, is: do not settle. I struggle with this problem very often myself! I think it’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t fit and to just buy “the next best thing” because the piece you fell in love with didn’t fit/cost too much/etc. Save your money! It will be worth it when that thing you almost bought isn’t hanging in the back of your closet with the tags still attached.

2. KNOW YOUR SIZE. Even thin ladies do this :P If something is too small…it’s too freakin’ small. Don’t buy it for “when you get back to suchandsuch weight” or altering it to try and make it fit (unless you’re letting out a seam). I’m sure you are a creative goddess, but unless you are a skilled tailor and know what you’re doing, I say move on. When you try something on and it seems snug, or is the fabric is pulling or that last button doesn’t button…don’t you dare try to talk yourself into saying it fits. It’s okay to try things on that are a smaller size that look like they may fit (some brands run large, may have an elastic waist or any other number of forgiving features), but for goodness sake don’t keep picking up a 12 when a 16 would be much more flattering. You are not a number.

3. That being said, understand your body. My best friend and I agree that we’ve come to understand our shapes and what works for them. Not that there’s a uniform style you need to stick to, but certainly an idea of what is unflattering is helpful. In my case this means no low rise jeans (muffin top, ahoy!), strapless things (instant uni-boob), anything too high-waisted (darn my short torso!), and narrow shoes (wide feet, blame my mother :P!). You should also know your measurements and don’t be afraid to try things on that you think usually don’t work for you. No harm in trying!

4. Broaden your shopping horizons. Get creative with where you shop - if you keep heading to the same local shops, it only limits you. Don’t be snobby and ignore the plus shops, either! You never know what you’ll find. Try out maternity clothes, too. Get over any mental stigmas you have about clothes and where to get them. And by God - shop online! The whole world is your shopping mall. To start off…

Ballyhoovintage.com
Violetvillevintage.com
Heyviv.com
H&M
Delias.com
Torrid.com
OldNavy.com
Gap.com

5. Something I learned the hard way…Consider how the garment will fit after its been washed. Do you really want to hand wash and line dry that t-shirt every time? Will it still fit as well as it does now once its been washed and dried? Dry cleaning your thing?

6. Be thrifty. I get seriously annoyed when a plus vintage dress is marked up on Etsy or Ebay and I see the words “Rare large size!!” Glare! I hate to be a drag, but even if they are rare, it just doesn’t seem right. I find larger size vintage in thrift stores fairly often. I think the price should depend on other factors, like quality, age, style, etc. Also, some modern stores like to charge a few dollars extra on larger sizes. For what…a few more inches? I don’t think that’s very good customer service, if you ask me! (Yes, I’m talking to you, Alloy folks.)

7. I’m sure I could have easily grouped this one in with number 3, but I thought it deserved a proper mention on its own. Try to avoid “easy fashion.” It seems big retailers want to confine us to certain styles. Not that one wrap dress, weird flowy boho top, or some form of stretch geometric print will kill you, but let’s not get carried away like our friends at Faith21. You deserve choice, I tell you!

I have loads of ideas for future topics, but is there anything in particular you might like to see? Not that I'm an expert on all matters, but maybe someone will benefit from my two cents!

P.S. Come back for a really awesome giveaway tomorrow :)!!

Etsy Update

2009-07-13T14:42:00.003-04:00

New batch in the shop! Phew, I didn't realize how busy I was going to be last week. I finished up my class observation project, thank goodness! So now I'll have the energy to post I think. I actually have so many topics I want to share, I've felt so overwhelmed that I guess somehow I ended up with none! But I'm getting organized and regular posting should resume this week :) Now I'm off to make arrangements for seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway (so exciting!) and Harry Potter (also exciting :D!), and make a run to the post office. Just wanted to stop in and say hello!

Oh, and I'm also planning a larger sizes update in the shop here soon, with sizes 10-16, so keep an eye out!

Brooklyn Rehab

2009-07-06T13:04:00.006-04:00

Black tee: American Apparel
Colorful ethnic skirt: thrifted
Wooden key necklace: Brooklyn Rehab on etsy
Sandals: Saltwater Sandals

I wore this outfit last week sometime, just thrifting and out about, the usual stuff. My favorite part of this outfit though is definitely my new wooden key necklace from Etsy seller Brooklyn Rehab. It goes with just about everything in my closet and is beautifully handcrafted. I have a thing for keys for some reason. I have a tiny sterling silver one on a chain that I wear sometimes too. Everyone always asks me, "aww is that the key to your heart!?" And I'm like, eek...naahh, I just um, like keys...? Haha I wish there was a more sentimental reason!

As a vintage clothing lover, it's natural that I love just about anything aged. I also am starting to have more of a rustic, primitive taste, and Alyssa's shop really suits my style! You can find anything from ceramic mushrooms to delicate doilies and I highly suggest you visit!

(Not to mention the adorable packaging it came in, which is delightful! You'll just have to buy something to see what the fuss is about I guess xD! In fact, if you purchase any jewelry, enter the code "Friends of Mars" for a 15% discount! Just jewelery though, remember!)

And check out her blog if you can't get enough! (Like me :D)

Fat Love Friday #3

2009-07-03T18:23:00.005-04:00

First is Norwegian blogger, Muija! I found her on Flickr and was thrilled to find out she had a blog! Her style is so put together, for one thing. I also really admire her color combinations (red and black being a signature for her!), like that first one, I never would have thought of that! Her style is kind of quirky with fun pin-up influences.

There's actually a movie character she reminds me of, too! Enid of Ghost World, anyone? I love that her hair style (love the Bettie Paige bangs!), glasses, and red lips are her trademark. As for how she's influenced me, I'm really excited to try out solid colors. Most of my dresses and skirts are floral or patterned. I may even dig in my closet tonight to try to come up with something!

Up until now, I've also kind of shied away from the Rockabilly look. But since she "rocks" (ha ha :P) the look so well, I might change my mind about that, too!

"Mamushka" Marie, of course! Who I found on Flickr as well, but also has an awesome blog. She's a thrift addict like me! This girl has a serious knack for prints and accessories. Her dresses look like they're from a high end boutique, I'm amazed that she picked them up second hand (lucky girl!). Sometimes I skip belts/jewelry because I'm afraid of looking gawdy, but her photos make me want to go out and stock up!

I also think her looks are really innovative. Specifically I love that she used a slip under the dress in the first photo. Her body shape seems really similar to mine too (is that weird to say??), so much so I gathered up some courage and asked her to do a dress swap! I have a bunch of plus dresses either of mine that I never got around to wearing or are going into the store. I'm so excited to pick one I think she'd like!

But that's a whole other story! :)

Drum roll, please!

2009-07-01T22:25:00.006-04:00

♥ Roisin - for being "the best thing since sliced bread."
♥ Mnemetz - for "bringing home the bacon."

Congratulations! The two of you have won these custom badges and your sayings will be used as a new design for her shop. I've notified the artist and she will be in touch with you.

But, surprise! - There are also a few runner-ups! These chosen winners' slogans will also be featured in her shop and she kindly offers you a 25% discount on any of her badges, which is good until December 31st, 2009. Enjoy!

1. Missa - for being "a happy camper."
2. Poke Salad Annie - for "dancing to the beat of your own drum."
3. Binary Blonde - for "cutting a rug."
4. Tanya - for "not giving a fig."

These are a few of my favorite things ♫...

2009-06-30T21:36:00.020-04:00

So, since I'm one of the new kids around here, I thought I'd tell you a little about me ^_^. I'll spare you a song about it (sorry, Julie Andrews!) and instead break it down in a little list (because I love those, too!).

♥ Rose scented body products! Roses are my favorite flower and one of my favorite smells of all time. I haven't found the perfect rose perfume yet, but some of my favorite products are: Dr. Bronner's hemp soap in rose, Lush's "A Ring of Roses" Buttercream soap, and Smith's Rosebud Salve.

♥ Expensive chocolate. Now, regular grocery store cheap stuff works in an emergency, but I have to admit I'm a bit of snob when it comes to chocolate and would much prefer to get the good stuff. My favorite is Godiva, but a close second is a local company called Malley's Chocolates. I actually worked there a few years ago. It opened in the '40s (you used to have to wear white gloves to get in!), is totally decked out in girly pink roses, and girls who work there are still required to wear skirts. Except of course, when you are the Easter bunny...

(That's my mom on the left!)

♥ Dance Dance Revolution. Yes, I'll admit it - I am definitely a geek. A dancing geek. I used to play with my friends obsessively in high school, but only occasionally now when I'm due for a bit of exercise! It's actually sort of how my current boyfriend and I met. He's way better than me and plays in a lot of tournaments.

♥ Little House books. Intended for ages 8-12, I know, I know. But lately I've just wanted to let my brain melt into a simple series and indulge my nostalgic tendencies. These stories paint such lovely little old timey pictures in my head, I often find myself daydreaming about these places...

♥ Nail polish. Since I wear a uniform at work, I like to paint my nails to give myself a little boost. I only do it every once and awhile, and I think it's kind of therapeutic to paint a few coats! Some of my favorites are, from left to right: Essie's Blanc, You Don't Know Jacques by OPI, For Audrey by China Glaze (about as close to Tiffany's as I'll ever get!), Basket Case by O'rly (which I was inspired to buy because of miss Piksi's photo!), and Monsooner or Later by OPI (I was trying to match the orangey red color from the 1997 movie "Lolita"!)

♥ Sailor Moon! I used to tape this show every day when I came home from middle school. I actually really identify with the main character, who is supposed to be kind of lazy and flaky but ultimately "triumphs over evil!" ...You know what I mean. I have the first two (and best, in my opinion) seasons on my computer, which I watch whenever the mood strikes. I actually had a toy scepter that I kept for a long time before deciding to put on Ebay. It sold for over $100, but it still breaks my heart a little!

Anyway, hope that was a little interesting for you! Don't forget to check back here tomorrow to see who won the giveaway!

Surviving First Love

2009-06-29T23:40:00.013-04:00

'70s Coral floral dress: thrifted
Caramel cut out heels: thrifted
Matching H&M bag: thrifted
First Love brooch: Lee Meszaros

Ok so first of all, I know it isn't nice to play favorites with your dresses, they're practically children! But...if I had to choose. I think coral is a flattering color on EVERYONE, and even though it makes me a little monotonous and predictable - I love florals! And of course an elastic waist is a chubby gal's best friend. So...here she is, in all her coral, floral glory.

I wore this to observe a (painfully!) early morning high school math course for my college course I'm taking this summer. Let's just say I'm not a morning person, nor a math person. Trying to be an optimist though - free lesson reviews? At any rate I wanted to look modest/simple for this occasion. I've decided this is all there is for me for "business casual" from now on. Dress pants, crisp blouses - such a drag! So I'm making an effort to make sure I never have to wear that stuff again :P!

As for the pin - yes, let's talk about the pin! Kindly given to me by Lee Meszaros, which by the way you have ONE day left to enter her contest, girlies! I really had a special reason for choosing this particular merit badge. It is for "surviving first love," and let me tell you - I freakin' earned this thing! I dated my first boyfriend on and off all through high school and even a bit after. It was actually a very retro (is that the right word?) romance. We met at the yearly city carnival and I had my first kiss in front of the lemonade stand.

Almost right away (he was a senior, I a sophomore) he joined the military. It was sad, but looking back I find the letter writing and "distance makes the heart grow fonder" stuff naive and sweet.

Unfortunately he turned out to be a cheating scoundrel of a thing and I'm happy to think about him only as a memory :P To this day I find myself amazed that my first love is over! And with age comes wisdom in these matters...mostly.

Oh, and I'm so excited to tell you that Aya has been sweet enough to honor my blog with an award! I was very flattered to have my name among some of my favorite bloggers that she also awarded! Thanks a million, doll ^_^!

So I will pass this on to a few blogs I adore: Left Hand Endeavor, Thrift Candy, and Mamushka Marie. Yay, go forth and be awarded and stuff xD!

Thrifting 101

2009-06-28T16:50:00.014-04:00

Here are two skirts I've thrifted for myself recently ^_^. The floral one on the left only just fits, and I happen to be eating a piece of coconut/pistachio/pineapple cake (my mom's specialty!) and I know I'm not helping matters! The one on the right was actually difficult to photograph (do excuse the wrinkles :P) but I love the color/pattern. I'll probably end up wearing both of these with boring white tshirts, but... we'll see.

So I was thinking about thrifting and all the little things I've learned through my adventures and I decided to write them down for you! Whether you're a novice or a thrift-spert or somewhere in between, I hope they help!

1. Learn to be selective. Only buy it if it’s amazing. Don’t just go around buying things willy-nilly because it’s vintage. A lot of vintage things are just plain ugly, and don’t get any more attractive just because they’re vintage!

2. Check carefully for damages. I learned this the hard way! There were a few times I brought home what I thought was the perfect find, only to discover it had stains, a botched hem, or some sort of tear (usually in the armpit!). There are things that can be mended, but if it’s in terrible shape, unfortunately it may just be best left behind, pennies saved for something else.

3. If you DO buy something that needs fixing up, make sure that you know how to do it, or at the very least, that you will find some way to do it. If you can’t stand sewing (like me!) the chances are that these projects are just going to pile up and be a waste of money in the end. But if you enjoy sewing and can make the time, by all means have at it!

4. Have a routine. I try to go the same thrift store at least once or twice a week. I’ve tried to go more frequently, but it’s easy to get frustrated when there’s barely anything new. Unless your store has a “new items” section, I think it’s better when there’s a little time between visits, because a week or so gives them enough time to put out new items. A good thing to do is ask when new things are put up, too!

5. Don’t always disregard sections that seem unappealing. We have a “Sportswear” section at my store that I tend to avoid, but occasionally I’ve found a vintage cardigan or blouse in there. Also check out the sleepwear section, since some of those housedresses can make really great cotton-y summer frocks!

6. Keep finding more stores. If you have the means - travel! I’ve often made it a day trip to visit several towns within an hour or two away. It’s nice to get away and refreshing to see new people and places. Here’s what I do when planning a thrift trip:

a. Use yellowpages.com to find stores around your area. You can also go to the official goodwill and salvation army sites for locations.

b. Use mapquest or a map to determine what the best route is - what makes the most sense driving-wise.

c. CALL BEFOREHAND. There is usually a telephone number in the listing, I highly recommend calling in advance to find out their hours, or if they are even still operating.

d. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions, and bring tools to help you navigate. Personally I have a little swiss army knife with a compass on it that’s helped immensely!

7. Haggle. I wouldn’t be my father’s daughter if I didn’t try to bargain with someone! If something has a hole, missing buttons, or any other damage, at least try to get a small discount. Or if you’re buying a lot of things. Most times, people are willing to take 10-50% off if you point these things out. This ain’t Macy’s, ladies!

8. Find out when they have sales going on. The Salvation Army stores in my area have their biggest sale on Wednesdays. A lot of times stores will have flyers that tell you what colors/items are discounted on what days - just ask if they have one!

9. Be friendly with the staff. Employees who recognize you might be willing to show you some of the more interesting items or even share their discount with you. Now, don't try to make friends just to get a discount! But it always helps to be nice and show appreciation, no matter where you are or what you're doing.

I also thrifted this amazing vintage coral wallet and a lavender Stanley thermos. The wallet is in pristine condition, it even still has the original pen inside. It also has the owner's original last check in there! Apparently its come all the way from St. Louis, Missouri to be with me. The thermos will be nice in the winter time, and oh how I love feminine housewares!

Anyway, if you're determined to be a smart thrifter, you should also check out:

1. Rhiannon of Liebemarlene's 10 thrifting tips via Mademoiselle Robot
2. Rachael of The Life Aesthetic's second hand shopping guide
3. Diana of Painfully Hips' thrifting pointers
4. and Aya of Strawberry Koi's thrifting video!

Happy thrifting :D!

Coupon!

2009-06-27T21:49:00.006-04:00

Just popping in to announce the 20% Independence Day sale over at the shop! I'll also be adding several low-priced items tomorrow and early this week (along with those shoes I promised!) so there are several good deals going on if you want to take a look ^_^. That's all for now, but I promise a real post tomorrow, pinky swear! (Forgive me for skipping Fat Love Friday too, won't you? I've been a bad blogger but I'll make it up to you, you'll see!)

Hope everyone's having a great weekend :D Only a week 'til fireworks and delicious BBQ!

Garden Love & Luck

2009-06-25T18:02:00.016-04:00

Clover print dress: thrifted
Leather faded color block purse: Wilson's, thrifted
Nude netted wedges: Naturalizer, thrifted

I'm not that crazy about this outfit unfortunately :P But it's been so hot lately and I was determined to get out of my cutoffs and tshirts, and the only other garment that was going to stand up to the heat was this breezy dress. I thrifted it the other day when the boyfriend and I went to a new thrift store (which is amazing in itself, since he usually hates shopping!). I wore this to my work to take my boss a farewell gift and wish him luck. Hopefully the clovers wore off on him! He was great, I'll really miss him!

The wedges I'm pretty excited about, considering they are a Wide size, which is hard to come by! Plus I'm pretty obsessed with nude shoes right now.

The new Salvation Army we found definitely climbed to the top of my list because I found a ton of really great shoes! I spent a lot of the afternoon photographing them today, so expect them to trickle into the shop this weekend and early next week. While I was taking pictures, I snapped a few shots of some of our garden. My parents collect turtle statues, some sort of romantic thing between the two of them? Which I think is pretty corny, but very, very sweet.

I've decided to try my luck on Ebay, and perhaps shift a few things from Etsy to there eventually as an experiment. But for the moment I'm giving it a try with my favorite find of the shoe haul. The listing is up and ready to go, so bid before they're gone ;)! Click to view the listing!

P.S. Does anyone have trouble viewing my blog? I looked at it on a different computer and it's all out of alignment and such...help ; ;!?

P.P.S. Only a few more days left for the Lee Meszaros giveaway! Hurry and enter before it's over!

Girl of a Different Color

2009-06-22T22:51:00.009-04:00

'80s Blue roses dress: thrifted
Cherry saddle bag: thrifted
Crazy '80s patchwork heels: thrifted
Gold bow + chain earrings: handmade, gift.

I told you I was feeling inspired by the ladies I posted about on Friday :D! It was really warm today (okay, only about 80 something, but for us northern folk that's pretty hot after 6 months or so of cold!) and I was really digging bright sunny colors. Last week I posted about how I was going garage sale-ing, but unfortunately they ended up being mostly baby clothes, stuffed animals, and knick knacks. Don't you hate that? Ah well. It's kind of interesting going through peoples' things though, one guy's sale told me he was a little dirty (huge Playboy collection), Pro-Life (pin badges), and a veteran (military wares). I was a little embarrassed sorting through his things!

So after I gave up on those, I headed to my trusty thrift store and found this outfit (except the bag, which I thrifted a couple months ago a few miles east of here). I was really trying to do something different so I hope it turned out okay!

It's so weird, the 1980's are probably my least favorite decade as far as fashion goes, but somehow my latest closet additions are all from that era! Tis a mystery... I also wore an '80s skirt the other night for a friend's birthday dinner, but it rained practically a monsoon and I was in a hurry so I will try to recreate it and post it here later in the week :).

I was also sushi-crazed this weekend! So much so that I had it twice. One of my favorite things to do is sit in a quiet sushi restaraunt and read a nice girly, smut novel (aka the Charlaine Harris series). The first plate is from a place called Sumo Boy. It's pretty cheap and the service is excellent! I just tried the second one today at a joint called Young's, and if I may be so bold, should tell you it is the best on Earth. I ate it while I sat through a huge traffic jam and was happy as a clam!

Yum! Anyway, happy Monday, hope you all have a great week!

Fat Love Friday #2

2009-06-19T17:36:00.026-04:00

I really have to refrain from sticking every plus gal I find on here(and hallelujah I’ve found so many!) in order to keep it at two per week to give them the attention they deserve. I hadn’t intended to pick two people who are on the same wavelength, but don’t they look great together!? They look like they should be friends ^_^.

First is Nicole of Fashion Forestry, or perhaps you know her on Flickr as lecondevetement. Nicole lives with her (hunky, dare I say!) French husband in San Fransisco where she goes to school for fashion design (obviously!). First of all, I’m having trouble finding words for her style. She’s like…like… a beautifully wrapped Christmas present or something! Layer by layer she just gets better :D Talk about personal style! If I put her outfits on, I'd probably look a mess, but on her she is over and over again a mixture of fun and class. Do I even have to point out the attention to detail?!

I love the way she marries every era in an outfit, whether it be a '60s print and '40s hat, or '80s shoes and her own current design (via the top left photo).

I have to admit, she's slowly but surely influencing my style, as after I sorted through her photos I became determined to accessorize more and take more risks!

Here we have the lovely Canadian lady, Cynara, most well known on Flickr as piningforthemoon, but also the Livejournal stitchtowhere. You should seriously take a look at her livejournal, first of all, because I love me a gal who can talk fat politics. Her sassy-ness radiates from the inside out! I'm absolutely in love with her dresses and if I didn't admire her, I might be tempted to steal them...somehow D:

She has such a funky retro vibe, if I were to meet her on the street she'd seem like someone I could approach with ease. I love her use of prints and punchy colors, and I'm definitely on the hunt for one of those veil fascinator hair gizmos and some fancy gloves

Another prime example of taking all the fashion (and makeup! oh, how i dream of trying red lipstick) risks I feel I can't, and proving that I just ought to give them a try :D!

Random Tidbits

2009-06-18T22:08:00.012-04:00

Today was a really random day! I got my fall semester's tuition in order, listed some things in the shop, packed items to be shipped tomorrow, etc. My boyfriend and I went to get a good ole American lunch today at a place called Scooter's Dawg House, which has an adorable mural inside and a license plate wall and all kinds of fun stuff in there! Not to mention a hot dog and fry lunch only costs you $3.58!

Not quite warm enough, but we're getting there!

I actually have more exciting things coming up that I can't wait to show you... Another giveaway, a DIY project, a dress and swimsuit came in the mail (but they need a little tweaking first), reviews, and so on! I'm also going to a ton of garage sales and a combo church rummage + bake sale tomorrow, so hopefully I find some great stuff. Oh, and I have not one, but TWO occasions where I need to dress to the nines this weekend, so that'll be fun (and a little nerve-wracking)! But for now feel free to check out what's new in the shop and come back tomorrow to see who got featured on Fat Love Friday ;)!

P.S. Don't forget to enter the Lee Meszaros giveaway, the deadline will be here sooner than you think!

P.P.S. In case you were curious, I wasn't quick enough to get the dress I was admiring from Estate Sale. Alas, some things are just not meant to be I s'pose!

Girly & Thrifty

2009-06-16T20:01:00.008-04:00

80s Country Club-esque dress: Thrifted
Vintage straw bag: Thrifted
Dusty pink flats: Thrifted
Gold locket: Ebay

Gosh, I don't know what happened to today! I meant to put another load of things into the store but somehow the day got away from me. After I ran my errands, I went to my favorite Salvos (I may just dedicate an entire post to this shop, it's a treasure trove!) and thrifted this outfit. I feel a little charity brunch and church girl in this but it was one of the warmest days we've had in June so far so I decided to just go with the girlie-ness.

Our first rose of the year!

After thrifting I came home and went on a bike ride with my mom down to this little field in our neighborhood to feed the deer. Usually they're clustered around there at dusk, but they weren't out today so we just left them the apples we brought (I might've been a little too scared if they were close anyway!)

The thrifting fairies must have been with me today (haha sorry that's a dorky habit, this constant mention of "the thrift fairy" or "the gas prices fairy" etc!) because I found three pairs of shoes :D! Which is awesome because my shoe collection is really quite pathetic these days. The gray ones are the only vintage (and they have little heels! the other two are flats) and the brand is called "Outdorables," how cute is that?

And lastly, this adorable straw bag! I was going to put it into the shop (sorry x_x!) but amazingly it fit all of my necessities. I've no idea what era it's from, so if you know I'm really quite curious!

Anyway, not much else to tell you about except to expect a shop update in the next day or two. Speaking of Etsy, there is a dress in Anja's shop that she's supposed to put in there soon, and I'm watching for it like a hawk, praying it's in my size! If it is, I can't wait to get it and show it to you :D! Wish me luck!

Lee Meszaros Merit Badge Giveaway!

2009-06-15T14:37:00.008-04:00

Clockwise from the top: 1. For being "fit as a fiddle," 2. for "getting back on the horse," 3. for being "quiet as a church mouse" 4. for "rolling with the punches" 5. for "going out on a limb."

Yes, that's right, it's Chicken Dinner Candybar's first giveaway! A generous Canadian Etsy artist by the name of Lee Meszaros has kindly allowed me to give away two of her adorable handmade merit badges. But this is no ordinary giveaway! 2 winners are going to win their own personal badges.

Here's what you have to do:

1. Come up with a slogan for a new badge! You know, a cute little cliche like your momma used to say. (Limit 3 per entry, please! And make sure you visit her shop to make sure it hasn't already been done ;) )

2. Leave it here in a comment, and if you don't have a blog don't forget to leave your e-mail.

That's it! The 2 most clever sayings will be made into a badge for two special ladies or gentlemen. So go ahead, get yourself some personalized free goods! Don't forget to visit her shop to see more of her awesome work.

Contest ends at 10pm Eastern time on June 30th. Winners will be announced July 1st. Good luck!!

Fat Love Friday #1

2009-06-12T20:37:00.013-04:00

I've decided that Fridays are for loving on my fellow fat chicks, hurray! I'm not even going to go into a lecture about how the media, the fashion industry, and even the average Joe neglect or devalue plus size fashion. So I've created a place for them here :). But don't worry, I'm not leaving out the thin ladies either! I'm very inspired by many of them too and plan on sharing my favorites with you eventually! All in good time :P Speaking of the equality of all figures, remember how I mused about a giveaway in my last post? I'm setting one up that every size can enjoy, so stay tuned! Without further ado, I give you my Plus Picks o' the Week!

The first is the Parisian blogger, Stephanie of Big Beauty. Her style is like a modern day princess, with lavish jewelry and accessories and lots of sparkling embellishments. She must have a royal tailor too, because she has quite the knack for fit! All of her clothes hug her in the right places and show off what a full, feminine shape she has. Expensive and lady-like taste too, as I don't speak french but I'd recognize Chanel anywhere!

Like I said, she has such a regal quality to her. Her outfit photos are the picture of poise and grace, even the ones of her trying to be silly! Most of her blog is in French, but some of the posts are translated to English, but the pictures alone make it worth a visit!

Not to mention she has THE greatest shoe collection ever. Seriously!

Next is Australian blogger Hayley of Fashion Hayley Hits Home. Is she not the most fashion forward person you know!? Most of her clothes are second hand and on sale, so not only are her outfits fabulous, they're budget conscious too. She actually works in the fashion world as a photographer and stylist, so it's safe to say she knows a thing or two about fashion. Like myself, she's also drawn inspiration from Japanese trends (she's even been there a few times, how jealous am I?)

I actually find her style very easy to relate to. Florals, chunky jewelry, funky prints. I also love her hairstyle, and personally, I think it's become quite her signature.

You've gotta know you're doing something right when famous people start drawing you, right?

Want to be featured here? Don't be shy, give us a holler! Starry9oclocksky@yahoo.com

Nature Girl (Get it? "Nature Boy," David Bow-...er, yeah.)

2009-06-11T22:01:00.010-04:00

"The greatest thing, you'll ever learn,
is just to love, and be loved in return."

Rustic vintage dress: Thrifted in Ashtabula, OH
Cranberry cardigan: Thrifted
Cognac ankle boots: Thrifted
Big chocolate bag: Christystudio on Etsy

Sorry I didn't get the bag in there properly! This is one of the best purses I've ever had, it's SO durable, holds all of my things, and was beautifully made. It's called "the Meredith" bag. Pretty name, no?

Stock photo from her shop.

I actually intended to take photos somewhere else today, but couldn't because of the rain, rats! But I have to admit I love it when it rains. I like everything about a good rain - the earthy smell, the sounds of it against the window, the way it saturates and amplifies the colors of everything. So today's outfit is inspired by a drenched landscape and just nature in general. I realized later that this inspiration found its way into my several things on my wishlist, too! Like...

From ShopAmbrosia.

From MinusOne.

From BajueBoutique.

From BetaBoutique.

From MothToAFlame.

From TheLovelyTeaspoon.

From Thrush.

From VintageRevolver.

From CraftyCrowVintage.

Ok, no more Etsy posts for awhile! I'm actually going to try out something I'd like to do as a weekly feature tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. Also, I'm toying with the idea of a giveaway (like Keiko Lynn's!) at the end of June...what should I give away? :D

Etsy Addict

2009-06-10T23:07:00.009-04:00

Click the photo to visit!

See, I make good on my promises, right? I still have tons of things to photograph, but this is what I've listed for tonight :) Expect more before the end of the week, though! While I was "working" I couldn't help but browse Etsy, even though I did buy one of the dresses from my pastels post :O I'll try to keep it a surprise until I receive it and try it on! I'm actually feeling a little dress-crazy lately, they're all I want to wear, and every time I peer into my closet and more haven't magically appeared I stand puzzled and disappointed. Plus I've been purging a lot of stuff lately, and I don't have many that are suitable for summer...ah, the words of an addict.

Anyhoo I thought I'd show you some of the things I'm lusting after. Sorry, fatty finds only this time!

From Everything Nana.

From Sacaton June.

From Rarae Aves.

From Sandy's Fancy Pants.

From Kisses From Ana.

From Erin Liz.

Speaking of fatty, where are all the chubby girl bloggers!? If you're out there, comment on this post so I can find you, huh? ;)

Teeny Bopper Challenge

2009-06-09T20:38:00.006-04:00

Very Modcloth -ish, right? Hm, maybe it's just me...

Cream top: Forever21

Patterned skirt: Wet Seal
Purple flats: Charlotte Rousse
Faux snakeskin bag: Thrifted

Unfortunately I haven't had much luck with thrift stores lately, save for a few trinkets and things to put in the shop. I know every girl has some feature she finds hard to dress (broad shoulders, big hips, tiny frame, etc!) but being the curvaceous lady that I am I get discouraged sometimes when all the "best" vintage things I find are about 5 sizes too small.

SO! A mall-lovin' girlfriend of mine's birthday is coming up and I promised I'd go to the mall with her to help her find a birthday outfit. I really had no intentions of finding anything, let alone buying anything, since I haven't been there in so long and have become quite accustomed to strictly 2nd hand shopping. So I thought heck - I wonder if I can put together an outfit strictly from the mall...that I actually LIKE. It was especially difficult because there is no F21, Gap, or H&M at this mall. So I stuck to the teeny bopper stores.

A few observations! First of all, everything is divided so strangely in these stores. They're arranged by style, so the sections are like "hippie," "clubbing," "preppy," etc. And - SO GOOD! - a lot of them are now carrying larger sizes! Duh, glad you caught on to real female shapes, guys.

As for yesterday, Bettie and I went thrifting in Cleveland. We only made it to a couple (and in one of them we got there 5 minutes before closing and both managed to find a few things! Talk about serious shoppers) but it was a nice relaxing day, complete with a visit to my favorite Chinese joint! Bettie has promised a post featuring some of the pictures we took, so I'll just let her do the talking! Oh, and we've got a Flickr account up and running if you'd like to take a gander. There's a photo on there of the outfit I wore the day I met with the ASL lady, the one I posted about here, that I didn't blog. And a snap of The Mysterious Bettie, too!

Oh, and more things going into the shop tomorrow, so watch out!

Bear with me here...

2009-06-07T00:40:00.002-04:00

A meme has been floating around, and since my hurried outfit snaps didn't turn out today, I think I'll jump on the bandwagon!

1. What is your current obsession?

This vintage bathing suit I won on Ebay :D

2. What is your weirdest obsession?

Hm. I don't think any of them are that weird, but if I had choose I guess it would be my fascination with any/all versions of the King Arthur tale. Mm, nerdy medieval stuff.

3. What do you see outside your window?

No window in here :(! This is our "emergency" room we go to whenever there's a tornado or something haha.

4. What is your favorite color?

Green, oh yes!

5. What is your weakness?

80's cartoon memorbilia. I still can't resist buying anything My Little Pony, Care Bears, and Rainbow Brite (circa 1980s of course, none of this re-done nonsense) and I'm 21 years old!

6. What animal would you be?

A horse, of course!

7. What would you like to learn how to do?

Everyone is saying sew their own clothes, and that would be great, but truth be told I'd rather go the dentist than fiddle with any sewing project! I'm impatient when it comes to sewing. So I'll have to say I would love to be able to work for myself.

8. What do you want to never happen in life?

Eek, many things. I'm really dreading the next locust season. It's scary, like the apocalypse or something!

9. What is on your bedside table?

Stack of books, geisha lady lamp, my phone.

10. What's the last thing you bought?

In person it was an iced soy decaf caramel latte (so high maintenance haha). But technically most recent was the bathing suit above.

11. What do you think about the person who tagged you?

I sort of just hijacked this survey, see. But A Cat of Impossible Colour gave me permission! I think she's adorable and wears vintage so well!

12. What was your favorite children's book?

Golden books when I was really young. Sweet Valley Twins. I read Number the Stars about a billion times.

13. Who do you want to meet in person?

As far as anyone, I have an online friend who I've been friends with for several years, affectionately nicknamed Panpo, who I'd love to meet. But as for bloggers, Strawberry Koi seems like a lovely lady. And Fashion Hayley seems like tons of fun!

14. What did you want to be as a child?

A horse jockey. Yes, I was one of those creepy horse girls. I remember going into kindergarten career day with an english riding helmet and one of those horse-on-a-stick deals, sound effects and all.

15. What did you dream about last night?

Really big hair. That's all I remember!

16. Which do you prefer, day or night?

Night. I always wait to go to sleep until I'm abolutely about to keel over from exhaustion. And sadly, when I open at work on Saturdays I have to take Tylenol P.M. the night before!

17. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your closet?

Definitely my vintage t-shirt collection. So comfy! I've realized that something must be 100% comfortable, or else it just sits and rots in my closet. Expect a post on my little collection someday!

18. What's your plan for tomorrow?

Hang out with Bettie, or in other words, forget life for the day.

19. What would you like to get your hands on right now?

A pair of vintage sunglasses to go with that suit!

20. What is your must-have of the moment?

Dresses. I would inject vintage dresses into my veins these days if I could.

21. What's your favorite tea flavor?

Chai! Cold at the moment, since it's getting warmer.

22. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

Anywhere in the deep south. New Orleans, Savannah, anywhere. I'm kind of obsessed with the idea. I've been to Tennessee and Florida, but those just aren't Southern enough!

I think I'm going to tag The Clothes Horse, Heart City, and Thrift Candy!

Etsy Update

2009-06-06T00:59:00.001-04:00

I had to wear my uniform today for work, so no outfit shots! Maybe one day I'll post a shot just for kicks. Does anyone else have to wear a work uniform? Do you try to get creative? I only have to do it one day a week, so I've pretty much given up on trying to have fun with my work clothes. Plus I'd hate to ruin anything I actually liked, since I usually come home covered in coffee grounds and chocolate syrup :P Anyway, just posting a sneak peek of what's new in the shop. I posted some of my favorite finds ever (but still saved a few for next time!) so make sure you take a little looksie :)

M.O.C.A.

2009-06-05T23:50:00.001-04:00

Perfect fit 80s dress: Thrifted
Black cross body bag: diegoldenegans.etsy.com
Bowler hat: Target
Black ballet flats: Department store in the mall I can't remember, years ago.

Just a quick post tonight! Bettie, my boyfriend, and a few of her friends and I went to Cleveland's Museum of Contemporary Art today for the opening of their new exhibit, which I believe was called "There goes the neighborhood." We got there at the tail end of it, but I was glad I got to see it, mainly because it was free :P And a good excuse to wear this dress, too! It fits perfectly and is incredibly comfortable, but I just don't think it's suited for day time. The bowler hat was an experiment...thoughts?!

There were soooo many stylish people there, but most of them were leaving as we came in. I did however get up the courage to ask one girl to let me take a shot of her outfit. Probably the best one in the whole gallery! Very friendly too, thank goodness!

She even turned out to be one of the artists! Her name is Amy Casey and you can find her awesome work here, which kind of reminds me of Howl's Moving Castle. Unfortunately the pictures of Bettie didn't turn out, BUT! She's visiting on Monday and we are definitely taking photos ^_^. Anyway, blah, time to hit the hay. I work weekends at a book store (Saturday as a barista and Sunday as a cashier) and I've been spoiled with my weekdays off taking my classes online and working on the store, but it's back to the ole 9 to 5 tomorrow! Yuck.

Pretty Pastels

2009-06-05T00:26:00.001-04:00

Dress: Liebemarlene Vintage
Jeans: JC Penney, years ago.
Simple white sneaks: Thrifted
Quilted navy bag: Thrifted

I know Anja Louise loves her lavender, and Alix her sea foam, but any shade of pastel is good enough for me! If I had to choose, I think I might side with Alix on the sea foam, or maybe a nice sky blue. But this is the only pastel thing in my wardrobe! So I've made up my mind to remedy that tomorrow when I get paid. I've put two on hold, now I just need to decide which one...or skip eating for a week and get both! (As I eat tortilla chips and fresh corn salsa!) There are also several other pastel beauties I've been lusting after on Etsy...

L to R: 1. imyourpresent 2. decades 3. nerdybird 4. jessjamesjake 5. supayana 6. revivalhouse

As for the hair, that was me making do with my pin curl disaster. They ended up being wound too tight and used too much putty and I woke up with an afro! But I'm satisfied with how it looks pulled back, so no big deal. I'm adding pastel goodness to the Etsy shop as well, so keep checking back!

Blast From the Past - In Technicolor.

2009-06-03T20:31:00.001-04:00

So let's talk rainbows! I've been into rainbowy things since high school, and I have to admit that I don't think I've quite outgrown it. Can't say how I first found out about it, but through most of middle school and high school I was obsessed with FRUiTS. While I didn't go all out with my outfits, I definitely wore a lot of character t-shirts, colorful jewelry, and just...rainbow stuff! The only evidence I could find was this one shot. Oh, youth! (Not that it was THAT long ago, but jeez, we all evolve into cooler people when we get older...r-right ; ;?) Before vintage,

this was what I thought of as my "style," I suppose. However, I didn't really go all out (see photos of those who do below). I sported red hair in HS, too. Kinda miss it. Anyway, if you've been living under a rock or something, FRUiTS is Japanese street fashion magazine by photographer Shoichi Aoki. His photos were compiled into a book in 2001. There are several different styles featured in the book, such as Decora (identifiable by the use of toys, bright colors, and anything "kawaii" or cute). Kind of similar to the American raver, which is what I usually tried to emulate. Lolita (a youthful and innocent babydoll look), or even Gothic Lolita (just a darker version of lolita, obviously.) There's also Ganguro, that one's fun! Usually it entails a deep tan, white panda-like eye makeup, and bleached hair. There are plenty other crazy styles, but I'd say those are my favorite ;)!

I was so into it, I made and sold jewelry online a few years ago. Eventually I got bored and stopped, but I definitely tried to drag Bettie into my obsession!

Isn't she adorable!? Hopefully she doesn't kill me for posting this haha. All in the name of fun, my dear! Anyway, I still have my FRUiTS book! I still admire the style, just now...at a distance ^_~. I've scanned in some of my favorite looks, so enjoy!

Oh, and I've also been slowly adding things to Etsy, so check back daily for new stuff! Anyway, I ended up failing those pincurls last night, so my mom's going to help me while we watch a chick flick. Wa-hoo. Let's hope they come out okay!

Cake-oh

2009-06-02T13:25:00.001-04:00

I got my June/July issue of Bust the other day, and I was pleasantly surprised to find one of my favorite bloggers featured in their personal style article! So if you're a fan like me, I took the liberty of scanning it in for you. But by all means, it's a great magazine, so make sure to get a copy one of these days!

This actually has a lot to do with what I blogged about yesterday, the whole child fashion thing, as she sites that as one of her inspirations. Her style is one I probably couldn't pull off myself, but I still really admire it! She has such personality - what a feminine, whimsical style! She's sort of larger than life, if that makes sense. And she makes a lot of her clothes to boot. You can find them at Postlapsaria.

Plus, I just wanted to congratulate her - what a nice feeling it must be to see "Fashion Designer" under your name :)! And possibly the best part of all - SHE SIGNS! I nearly fell over in my chair when I found her Youtube videos. I hope she doesn't mind me posting, but it's so fun I really wanted to share. (To be clear, this is PSE, not ASL, as it is in English word order.) Enjoy!

Now I'm off to buy hair putty and check out my favorite Salvos. Pray to the thrift fairy that I find something lovely, won't you?

Unda presha.

2009-06-02T11:52:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is my placement test for ASL. I transferred schools to pursue a degree in interpreting, but in order to join their program you have to take a test to asses the skills you acquired at your previous school. I won't bore you with the details - all you need to know is that tonight I'm going to be studying furiously in hopes that I do well so that I don't have to take ASL 101 again, oy.

Low and behold - I've listed a few things in the shop! I'm new to this Etsy selling thing, so if anyone has any tips or tricks to make it better, do share :) I also need to figure out an easier way to make collages. I think to make them you need to be able to make images transparent...?? Bah. Anyway. A preview of what's for sale, you ask?

I think I'm going to try pin curls later to get a little extra purdy for my meeting with the ASL department head. Depending on the weather, I have this white with blue flowers little '50s day dress I think would suit the occasion, but then again it's kind of see through. Sigh... wish me luck!

Kiddie fashion!

2009-06-01T14:14:00.001-04:00

Is it just me, or has anyone else stumbled upon the perfect little vintage dress...and that's the problem, it's so little. I don't know how many times I've held something up, squinted at it, and then shoved it back on the rack mumbling, "Why don't they make this stuff in adult sizes?" Children's clothes pay so much more attention to detail. I've also considered: had I any children, would I dress them in vintage, too? As much as I think I'd love to dress them like my dollies back in the day, I have to conclude that it'd probably be a little silly. Maybe just once, for a photo's sake? Vintage-lovin' mamas: What are your thoughts?

To prove kid fashion is so rad, I've provided proof. My dad found this '50s paper doll book he managed to hide from me for all these years. I think the hats and rompers are my favorite. Look, they even have names!

A star is born.

2009-05-31T14:01:00.002-04:00

Dress (moo moo!): Thrifted
Woven flats: Thrifted
Sage belt: Thrifted
Tooled leather bag: Thrifted

...Wow, that was a lot of work! I had no idea you girls put so much effort into these blog gizmos.Cropping, editing, saving, oh my! But here we are, safe and sound. First of all, a huge arigato to Miss Aya of Strawberry Koi for making the header image. She's quite the collection of talents (you should especially check out her hair tutorials)! I do indeed have photoshop, but unfortunately I just had to break it to myself that I really am just not good at it.

Anyway, I'm here to break the ice while Bettie shmoozes with bar patrons and runs around being fabulous. She is the other half of this blogmance. And my best pal. We decided to start one of these babies because we are both huge lurkers and decided to join ya'll. Over the last year or so both of our vintage/thrifted wardrobes have expanded considerably, and I guess we just woke up one day and said "Oh, I guess that means I like vintage. And fashion :O!" So, running alongside our blogger space we've got an Etsy store in the works too, which should be up next week, God willing. She'll introduce herself one of these days!

We've been friends for years (about 7), but I searched high and low for a good photo of us together and came up with just a glimpse (in high school no less!):

Left: Bettie

Right: Mars

'Til next time! (Two points if you know which anime series' first episode's title is at the top of this post. Hint: it rhymes with Shmayler Foon. And yes, I dig that kind of thing ;D)

p.s. Yes, Mars + Bettie are nicknames. As for our real names...we'll never tell :P!